Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What does the minimum necessary standard under HIPAA require?

1. Unlimited access to patient data

2. Access limited to the minimum necessary for the job assigned

3. Daily audits of patient records

4. Sharing information with all employees

The correct answer is: Access limited to the minimum necessary for the job assigned

The minimum necessary standard under HIPAA is a crucial provision that mandates that covered entities must limit access to protected health information (PHI) to only that which is necessary for individuals to perform their job responsibilities. This means that when someone accesses patient data, they should only view or share the least amount of information required to achieve their specific task or purpose. This standard helps to protect patient privacy by ensuring that sensitive information is not disclosed more broadly than necessary. For example, a nurse involved in direct patient care may need access to a patient’s medical history and medications to provide appropriate treatment, but administrative staff involved in billing would only need access to the billing information rather than the entire medical record. Other choices, such as providing unlimited access to patient data, conducting daily audits of records, or sharing information with all employees, do not align with HIPAA's intent to maintain confidentiality and limit exposure of PHI. Therefore, limiting access to the minimum necessary for the job assigned not only upholds the principle of privacy but also facilitates compliance with HIPAA regulations.