CHPS HIPAA Security Rule Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The HIPAA Security Rule organizes its standards into three categories of safeguards. Which of the following correctly lists all three?
- Administrative, Physical, and Technical (Correct answer)
- Administrative, Operational, and Technical
- Organizational, Physical, and Logical
- Policy, Physical, and Procedural
Correct answer: Administrative, Physical, and Technical
The HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities to implement Administrative, Physical, and Technical safeguards to protect electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Question 2: Under the HIPAA Security Rule, what distinguishes a 'required' implementation specification from an 'addressable' one?
- Required specifications must be implemented as stated; addressable ones must be implemented, modified, or documented as not applicable with justification (Correct answer)
- Required specifications apply only to hospitals; addressable ones apply to all covered entities
- Required specifications are technical controls; addressable ones are administrative controls
- Required specifications must be audited annually; addressable ones are optional
Correct answer: Required specifications must be implemented as stated; addressable ones must be implemented, modified, or documented as not applicable with justification
Required specifications must be implemented exactly as described, while addressable specifications allow covered entities to assess whether the standard is reasonable and appropriate, implement an equivalent alternative, or document why it is not applicable.
Question 3: The HIPAA Security Rule specifically protects which type of protected health information (PHI)?
- Electronic protected health information (ePHI) only (Correct answer)
- Paper and electronic protected health information
- Verbal and electronic protected health information
- All forms of PHI including oral, paper, and electronic
Correct answer: Electronic protected health information (ePHI) only
The HIPAA Security Rule applies exclusively to electronic protected health information (ePHI) — PHI that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted in electronic form.
Question 4: Which entities are directly required to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule?
- Covered entities and business associates (Correct answer)
- Covered entities only
- Business associates only
- All entities that handle any patient data
Correct answer: Covered entities and business associates
Both covered entities (health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and certain healthcare providers) and their business associates are required to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of conducting a Security Risk Analysis (SRA) under the HIPAA Security Rule?
- To identify and assess potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI (Correct answer)
- To document all breaches that have occurred in the past year
- To certify that all technical safeguards are functioning properly
- To train workforce members on security policies
Correct answer: To identify and assess potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI
The Security Risk Analysis is required to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities to ePHI so that the organization can implement appropriate security measures to reduce those risks.
Question 6: Under the Administrative Safeguards of the HIPAA Security Rule, which standard requires covered entities to implement policies and procedures to prevent, detect, contain, and correct security violations?
- Security Incident Procedures (Correct answer)
- Information Access Management
- Workforce Security
- Security Awareness and Training
Correct answer: Security Incident Procedures
The Security Incident Procedures standard requires covered entities to address the identification and response to security incidents, including policies to prevent, detect, contain, and correct violations.
Question 7: How frequently must a covered entity review and update its security policies and procedures under the HIPAA Security Rule?
- Periodically, and in response to environmental or operational changes that affect ePHI security (Correct answer)
- Annually on a fixed calendar schedule
- Only when a breach or security incident occurs
- Every three years as part of a formal certification cycle
Correct answer: Periodically, and in response to environmental or operational changes that affect ePHI security
The Security Rule requires covered entities to review and update policies periodically and whenever environmental or operational changes affect the security of ePHI, rather than on a fixed schedule.
CHPS HIPAA Security Rule Compliance 1
The HIPAA Security Rule organizes its standards into three categories of safeguards.
Which of the following correctly lists all three?