Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a part of the HITECH and Omnibus updates?

1. Ability to sell PHI without an individual's approval

2. Stronger enforcement of HIPAA regulations

3. Increased penalties for violations

4. Expanded patient rights regarding their health information

The correct answer is: Ability to sell PHI without an individual's approval

The correct answer is the ability to sell PHI without an individual's approval. Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and its subsequent Omnibus updates, privacy and security protections for protected health information (PHI) were strengthened, emphasizing the importance of patient consent and control over their own health data. The updates were designed to enhance patient privacy rights, and thus, the sale of PHI would contradict this objective. Instead of permitting the unrestricted sale of PHI, the updates reinforce the requirements for obtaining patient consent before any personal health information can be shared or sold. In contrast, the other elements listed—stronger enforcement of HIPAA regulations, increased penalties for violations, and expanded patient rights regarding their health information—are indeed integral components of the HITECH and Omnibus updates, demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding patient privacy and ensuring accountability in handling health information.