Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What is the main focus of the Security Rule?

1. Quality of care

2. Protection of electronic health information

3. Patient satisfaction

4. Financial management

The correct answer is: Protection of electronic health information

The main focus of the Security Rule is the protection of electronic health information. This rule is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and establishes national standards for safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI). Its primary goal is to ensure that organizations implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect sensitive patient information from unauthorized access, breaches, or theft. The Security Rule outlines specific measures that must be taken to secure ePHI, including the implementation of access controls, encryption, secure user authentication, and regular risk assessments. By prioritizing the protection of electronic health information, the Security Rule ensures that patient privacy is maintained while facilitating the electronic exchange of health data, ultimately enhancing the trust between patients and healthcare providers. Other choices, such as quality of care, patient satisfaction, and financial management, although important in the healthcare sector, do not pertain directly to the objectives of the Security Rule. They focus on different aspects of healthcare delivery and management instead of the specifics of safeguarding electronic health information.