Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What must be included in a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?

1. Methods of improving technology security

2. Steps for data transfer and sharing

3. Risks associated with handling identifiable information

4. Policies for user access control

The correct answer is: Risks associated with handling identifiable information

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a vital tool used to evaluate the privacy risks associated with projects or systems that handle personal data, particularly identifiable information. Including the risks associated with handling identifiable information in a PIA is essential because it provides a comprehensive understanding of potential vulnerabilities and threats to individual privacy. Identifying these risks helps organizations formulate strategies to mitigate them, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations like HIPAA. By assessing these risks, organizations can implement necessary safeguards to protect personal health information, ultimately fostering trust between the organization and the individuals whose data is being handled. While the other options might be relevant in certain contexts, they do not encompass the core requirement of a PIA as effectively as identifying and analyzing the risks associated with identifiable information. For instance, while policies for user access control or methods for improving technology security are important for overall data protection, they do not directly address the assessment of privacy impacts, which is the primary focus of a PIA. Similarly, steps for data transfer and sharing are procedural rather than focused on the privacy implications, making them secondary to the core purpose of the assessment.