HIPAA

Question 1

Why was HIPAA enacted, and who enforces it today?

Answer 1

Enacted in 1996 to ensure insurance portability, HIPAA now protects health data privacy and security under enforcement by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within HHS.

Question 2

Which entities must follow HIPAA rules?

Answer 2

Covered Entities—providers, insurance companies, clearinghouses—and their Business Associates, such as billing, legal, or data analysis vendors.

Question 3

What does the HIPAA Privacy Rule protect?

Answer 3

It protects Protected Health Information (PHI)—any data that can identify a patient, including names, addresses, dates, ID numbers, biometrics, and photos.

Question 4

What does the Security Rule require?

Answer 4

Covered entities and business associates must safeguard electronic PHI through administrative, physical, and technical measures

Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability

Question 5

When must a breach be reported under HIPAA?

Answer 5

If PHI is improperly used or disclosed, it’s presumed a breach unless a risk assessment shows low likelihood of compromise—requiring notice to patients, HHS, and sometimes media.

Question 6

What are providers’ responsibilities and risks under HIPAA?

Answer 6

Providers must protect patient data or face major fines. Because medical records are valuable to hackers, many organizations carry cyber liability insurance for breaches and ransomware.