Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What are the five mandated areas for maintaining the security of e-PHI?

1. Financial, technical, personnel, environmental, and administrative

2. Technical, administrative, physical, organizational, and documentation procedures

3. Technical safeguards, physical safeguards, administrative safeguards, organizational requirements, and policies/procedures

4. Only technical and organizational safeguards

The correct answer is: Technical safeguards, physical safeguards, administrative safeguards, organizational requirements, and policies/procedures

The five mandated areas for maintaining the security of electronic Protected Health Information (e-PHI) are identified as technical safeguards, physical safeguards, administrative safeguards, organizational requirements, and policies/procedures. Technical safeguards refer to the technology and the policy and procedures for its use that protect e-PHI and control access to it. Physical safeguards involve controlling physical access to protect the electronic systems and the facilities in which they are housed from unauthorized access. Administrative safeguards encompass the policies and procedures designed to clearly show how the entity will comply with the HIPAA rules. Organizational requirements relate to the overall structure of policies within the organization concerning HIPAA compliance. Lastly, policies and procedures guide the implementation and maintenance of security practices. Together, these areas create a comprehensive framework essential for protecting sensitive health information in the digital realm, ensuring both compliance with regulatory standards and the safeguarding of patient privacy. This structured approach allows healthcare entities to take a holistic view of e-PHI security and to implement effective measures across various dimensions of their operation.