American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

According to OCR, what does the HIPAA Security Rule establish?

1. Guidelines for patient communication

2. Standards for security of electronic health information

3. Policies for medical billing

4. Protocols for patient admission

The correct answer is: Standards for security of electronic health information

The HIPAA Security Rule establishes standards for the security of electronic health information, which is critical in maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of patients’ health data. This rule applies specifically to electronic protected health information (ePHI) and provides a framework that covered entities and their business associates must follow to safeguard ePHI from unauthorized access, including physical, technical, and administrative safeguards. The focus on electronic health information is essential given the increasing reliance on electronic systems in healthcare. The Security Rule complements the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which addresses the broader issue of privacy in healthcare, while the Security Rule zeroes in on the necessary measures to protect electronic data from breaches and data loss, thus ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive health information. The other options, while relevant to healthcare operations, do not pertain specifically to the standards set by the HIPAA Security Rule. For example, guidelines for patient communication and policies for medical billing involve different aspects of healthcare compliance and operations, and protocols for patient admission deal with the processes of integrating patients into healthcare systems rather than safeguarding their electronic data.