HIPAA Risk Analysis and Risk Management

Question 1

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, what is the PRIMARY purpose of conducting a risk analysis?

Accepted Answer

To identify and evaluate potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI

Answer

To document which workforce members currently have access to ePHI

Answer

To satisfy mandatory annual reporting requirements to the Office for Civil Rights

Answer

To determine which workforce members require HIPAA Security Rule training

Question 2

Which HIPAA Security Rule standard contains the required implementation specification for conducting a risk analysis?

Accepted Answer

Security Management Process (§164.308(a)(1))

Answer

Workforce Security (§164.308(a)(3))

Answer

Audit Controls (§164.312(b))

Answer

Contingency Plan (§164.308(a)(7))

Question 3

After completing a risk analysis, what must a covered entity's risk management plan accomplish?

Accepted Answer

Reduce identified risks to a reasonable and appropriate level given the entity's environment

Answer

Document all identified risks and defer remediation to the next scheduled annual review

Answer

Obtain written sign-off from an external auditor before any security measures are implemented

Answer

Eliminate every identified risk to ePHI before any systems are placed into production

Question 4

Which of the following would render a covered entity's risk analysis INADEQUATE under HIPAA?

Accepted Answer

Limiting the scope to the electronic medical record system while excluding email servers and portable devices

Answer

Evaluating threats and vulnerabilities for all systems that store, transmit, or receive ePHI

Answer

Assigning risk levels based on the likelihood and potential magnitude of harm

Answer

Documenting the methodology used to assess likelihood and impact of threats

Question 5

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, when must a covered entity review and update its risk analysis?

Accepted Answer

Periodically, and in response to environmental or operational changes such as new technology implementations

Answer

Only at fixed three-year intervals established by the covered entity's compliance officer

Answer

Only after a security breach has been confirmed and reported to OCR

Answer

Exclusively when required by a business associate as a condition of their Business Associate Agreement

Question 6

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, what is the correct relationship between a covered entity's risk analysis and its selection of security safeguards?

Accepted Answer

Risk analysis informs which safeguards are reasonable and appropriate for the entity's specific risk environment

Answer

Security safeguards must be fully implemented first; the risk analysis then validates their adequacy

Answer

Both risk analysis and safeguard selection are optional for covered entities with fewer than 50 employees

Answer

Security safeguards are standardized by CMS and apply uniformly regardless of individual risk analysis findings