HIPAA Security Rule Compliance Flashcards

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, what is the primary responsibility of the designated Security Official (Security Officer)?

Answer: To be responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures required by the Security Rule

The Security Official is responsible for developing and implementing the security policies and procedures required by the HIPAA Security Rule for the covered entity.

The Workforce Security standard under the HIPAA Security Rule's Administrative Safeguards requires covered entities to:

Answer: Implement policies and procedures to ensure that workforce members have appropriate access to ePHI and to prevent those who do not have access from obtaining it

Workforce Security requires policies ensuring appropriate ePHI access for those who need it while preventing unauthorized access by those who do not, covering authorization, supervision, and termination procedures.

What does the Evaluation standard under the HIPAA Security Rule's Administrative Safeguards require a covered entity to perform?

Answer: Periodic technical and non-technical evaluations of the security policies and procedures in response to environmental or operational changes

The Evaluation standard requires covered entities to periodically assess how well their security policies and procedures meet the Security Rule requirements, particularly after operational or environmental changes.

Under the Physical Safeguards of the HIPAA Security Rule, Facility Access Controls are designed to:

Answer: Limit physical access to electronic information systems and the facilities in which they are housed to authorized users

Facility Access Controls require policies and procedures to limit physical access to electronic information systems and their housing facilities to those with authorized access.

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, encryption of ePHI at rest is classified as:

Answer: An addressable implementation specification under Device and Media Controls

Encryption of ePHI at rest is an addressable implementation specification; covered entities must assess whether implementing encryption is reasonable and appropriate given their risk environment.

How does the HIPAA Security Rule define electronic protected health information (ePHI)?

Answer: Individually identifiable health information that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted in electronic form

ePHI is individually identifiable health information that a covered entity creates, receives, maintains, or transmits in electronic form, covering all electronic media, not just internet transmissions.

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, what is the significance of documenting security decisions and policies even when a covered entity is small?

Answer: Documentation is required to demonstrate compliance during HHS audits and investigations, and scalability of safeguards depends on documented risk analysis findings

The Security Rule requires all covered entities, regardless of size, to document policies, procedures, and risk analysis findings because documentation is the evidence of compliance reviewed during audits and breach investigations.