Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of the HIPAA Security Officer?

1. Manage security training programs

2. Ensure compliant disclosures of PHI authorizations

3. Conduct risk assessments

4. Implement security measures for electronic data

The correct answer is: Ensure compliant disclosures of PHI authorizations

The responsibility of the HIPAA Security Officer primarily revolves around the safeguarding of electronic protected health information (ePHI) and ensuring that appropriate security measures are in place. This includes tasks such as managing security training programs for staff to ensure they understand how to handle ePHI safely, conducting risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in the organization’s security posture, and implementing the necessary security measures to protect electronic data from breaches or unauthorized access. On the other hand, ensuring compliant disclosures of PHI authorizations is typically not under the purview of the HIPAA Security Officer. This responsibility more often falls to the Privacy Officer, who takes charge of protecting the privacy rights of individuals by managing how PHI is accessed and disclosed according to HIPAA regulations. Thus, option B reflects a function that is not associated with the Security Officer's role, making it the correct choice in this context.