Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Was the downloading of ePHI to a flash drive a violation of HIPAA security safeguards?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only if the flash drive was lost.

4. Only if the data was not encrypted.

The correct answer is: Yes

The downloading of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) to a flash drive can indeed be considered a violation of HIPAA security safeguards. HIPAA mandates that covered entities and their business associates implement strict security measures to protect ePHI from unauthorized access and breaches. Storing ePHI on portable devices like flash drives poses a significant risk, as these devices can be easily lost, stolen, or accessed by unauthorized individuals. While HIPAA allows for the use of portable devices, it imposes specific safeguards, such as encryption, to protect the data contained on those devices. If ePHI is downloaded onto a flash drive without robust security measures in place, it can expose patient information to breaches of confidentiality, which is contrary to HIPAA regulations. Therefore, the act of downloading ePHI to a flash drive without implementing sufficient security measures is a violation of HIPAA. In summary, the correct understanding of this context supports the conclusion that downloading ePHI to an unsecured flash drive is indeed a violation of HIPAA security safeguards, leading to the affirmation of the choice indicating "Yes."