Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What happens to the Security and Privacy measures of HIPAA after a patient downloads personal health information?

1. They become void

2. They remain intact

3. They are enhanced

4. They vary by provider

The correct answer is: They become void

The correct understanding of what happens to the security and privacy measures of HIPAA after a patient downloads personal health information is that they remain intact. When a patient downloads their health information, the safeguards in place to protect the privacy and security of that information do not become void. The protections embedded in HIPAA are designed to safeguard the patient’s health information throughout its lifecycle, including after it has been downloaded. This means that even after the download occurs, the obligations and protections mandated by HIPAA still apply to the covered entity that provided the information. Specifically, entities must continue to maintain the confidentiality and security of health information, as well as comply with regulations regarding the use and disclosure of that information. In regard to the other options, stating that the measures become void fails to recognize the ongoing responsibilities of healthcare providers and their duty to protect patient data even after it has been shared. Saying that the measures are enhanced or vary by provider introduces inaccurate complexities since HIPAA establishes a baseline of standards that must be uniformly adhered to irrespective of individual provider protocols.