Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What are administrative safeguards?

1. Measures to protect electronic PHI through physical barriers.

2. Policies to manage access to electronic information systems.

3. Actions and procedures to manage security measures for ePHI.

4. Technical measures for protecting electronic information systems.

The correct answer is: Actions and procedures to manage security measures for ePHI.

Administrative safeguards refer to the actions and procedures that organizations implement to manage their security measures specifically related to electronic protected health information (ePHI). These safeguards are crucial for ensuring that all potential risks to ePHI are identified and addressed through comprehensive policies and procedures. In the context of HIPAA, administrative safeguards encompass a wide range of practices including the designation of a security officer, conducting risk assessments, and implementing training programs for employees about the secure handling of ePHI. By focusing on managing and enforcing the policies governing the use and access to ePHI, organizations can significantly mitigate risks associated with data breaches and unauthorized access. While other choices might touch on relevant aspects of data protection—such as physical barriers or technical measures—administrative safeguards are fundamentally about the organizational policies that dictate how ePHI is handled and protected within those frameworks. This governance is what ultimately ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations and safeguards patient privacy.