Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

The Omnibus Rule of 2013 expanded protections for which type of information?

1. General health statistics.

2. Health information of minors.

3. Genetic Information.

4. Emergency contact information.

The correct answer is: Genetic Information.

The Omnibus Rule of 2013 made significant amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, specifically enhancing the protections for individuals' health information. One crucial aspect of this rule was its focus on "genetic information." Genetic information is considered sensitive health information that can provide insights not only about an individual’s health but also about their family members. The rule emphasized the importance of safeguarding this information against unauthorized access and discrimination. As a result, covered entities, including health care providers and insurers, are now required to implement stricter safeguards and ensure that genetic information is treated with the same level of confidentiality and insecurity as other types of protected health information (PHI). The other options, while they may carry their own significance in health data management and privacy, were not specifically targeted by the Omnibus Rule in the same way as genetic information. General health statistics, the health information of minors, and emergency contact information, although important, do not receive the same enhanced protections under the amendments established by the Omnibus Rule. Thus, the focus on genetic information is correctly identified as a significant expansion under the Omnibus Rule, highlighting the ongoing evolution of privacy protections in healthcare data management.