Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Who may not have the right to access a Personal Health Record?

1. The patient

2. The healthcare provider

3. Unauthorized family members

4. The insurance representative

The correct answer is: Unauthorized family members

Unauthorized family members do not have the right to access a Personal Health Record (PHR) because they are not defined as authorized individuals under the regulations governing patient privacy. The privacy and security of health information are protected under HIPAA, which restricts access to personal health records to the individual patient, their designated healthcare providers, and other authorized parties, such as insurance representatives for billing and claims purposes. The regulations require explicit consent from the patient to share their health information with others, including family members. This ensures that sensitive health data is only accessible to those who are legitimately authorized to view it, thereby protecting the patient's privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of their medical information. Therefore, any family member who does not have explicit permission from the patient cannot lawfully access their PHR.