Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the HIPAA Exam. Review flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Equip yourself with knowledge on health data privacy, transaction standards, and more!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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Which government department was tasked by Congress to write the HIPAA rules?

  1. Department of Justice

  2. Department of Health and Human Services

  3. Department of Homeland Security

  4. Department of Labor

The correct answer is: Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was tasked by Congress to write the HIPAA rules because it is the primary federal agency responsible for overseeing the nation's health care system, including ensuring the protection of individuals' health information. The HIPAA legislation was enacted in 1996 to address the privacy and security of health information, and it falls under the jurisdiction of HHS. This agency has the authority to implement regulations that ensure compliance with HIPAA requirements, thereby protecting sensitive patient data and promoting standardization in healthcare transactions. The other departments mentioned do not have the same focus on health information privacy and security. For instance, the Department of Justice is mainly concerned with enforcing federal laws and ensuring public safety, while the Department of Homeland Security focuses on protecting the nation from various threats. The Department of Labor addresses workforce issues and labor standards, which are not directly related to health information. Thus, the significant role of HHS in implementing HIPAA reflects its commitment to safeguarding personal health data while facilitating health care transactions.