Question

An investigator obtains consent and HIPAA authorization from subjects to review their medical records and HIV status. He plans to go back to the medical record, so the HIV status information is stored along with subject identifiers in a database that he keeps on his laptop computer. His laptop is stolen. This incident constitutes:

A. A FERPA violation
B. An invasion of privacy
C. A breach of confidentiality
D. A HIPAA violation

Answer 1

Answer:D. A HIPAA violation

Explanation:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a legislation that was designed to protect or safeguard medical records of patients, to eliminate and prevent healthcare fraud and protect health care coverage of employees .

It helps to ensure that patients' information remains private and their record are secured.

The updated rules of this act includes the HIPAA Privacy Rule, HIPAA Security Rule, HIPAA Omnibus Rule, and the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule.

A HIPAA violation is a failure to comply with any aspect of HIPAA standards and provisions and in this case it was theft of records; he should have ensured that the computer is placed in a secured place or the information is locked even when the computer get stolen.