HIPAA Minimum Necessary Standard 2

Question 1

Which scenario represents a violation of the Minimum Necessary Standard?

Accepted Answer

A billing specialist accessing a patient's full psychiatric history to process an insurance claim

Answer

A billing specialist does not need access to a patient's full psychiatric history to process a claim; providing this exceeds the minimum necessary for the billing function.

Question 2

What is a 'limited data set' under HIPAA, and how does it relate to the Minimum Necessary Standard?

Accepted Answer

PHI with most direct identifiers removed, used for research, public health, or healthcare operations under a data use agreement

Answer

A limited data set is PHI stripped of most direct identifiers and may be used for research, public health, or operations under a data use agreement, representing one way to apply the Minimum Necessary Standard.

Question 3

Under the Minimum Necessary Standard, how should a covered entity respond to a request for an entire medical record?

Accepted Answer

Evaluate whether the entire record is actually needed or if a subset would suffice

Answer

Covered entities must evaluate whether the entire record is genuinely necessary or whether a subset of PHI would be sufficient for the stated purpose.

Question 4

How does the Minimum Necessary Standard apply to business associates handling PHI?

Accepted Answer

Business associates must limit their use and disclosure of PHI to what is specified in the Business Associate Agreement

Answer

Business associates must limit their use, disclosure, and requests for PHI to what is permitted by the Business Associate Agreement and necessary to perform contracted services.

Question 5

Which of the following is a proper way for a covered entity to implement the Minimum Necessary Standard for workforce access?

Accepted Answer

Identify classes of workforce members who need certain PHI and limit their access accordingly

Answer

Covered entities must identify workforce classes, the PHI each class needs, and then implement policies limiting access to that specific PHI.

HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Practice Test

HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Practice Test

HIPAA Minimum Necessary Standard 2