Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Which federal office is responsible for enforcing updated HIPAA mandates?

1. CMS

2. OCR

3. HHS

4. FDA

The correct answer is: OCR

The correct answer is the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OCR is specifically tasked with enforcing the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules. This enforcement role includes conducting investigations of complaints, performing compliance reviews, and obtaining compliance through voluntary means or, if necessary, imposing penalties for violations. OCR's responsibilities are crucial for ensuring that covered entities and business associates adhere to HIPAA regulations, which protect patient privacy and secure health information. The OCR has the authority to take corrective action against entities that fail to comply with HIPAA mandates, making it a central player in the landscape of health information security. Other federal offices mentioned have different responsibilities; for instance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) focus more on the administration of healthcare programs rather than enforcing HIPAA specifically. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety and efficacy of drugs and medical devices, whereas the overarching Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supervises various health-related initiatives but is not solely responsible for HIPAA enforcement. Thus, the OCR's targeted focus on civil rights protections related to health information makes it the appropriate choice for this question.