Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Which of the following actions is compliant with the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

1. Discussing patient details in public places

2. Accessing a co-worker's medical records without consent

3. Sharing PHI for treatment among medical professionals

4. Posting patient information on social media

The correct answer is: Sharing PHI for treatment among medical professionals

Sharing protected health information (PHI) for treatment among medical professionals is compliant with the HIPAA Privacy Rule because it is considered a necessary part of providing care to patients. The Privacy Rule allows healthcare providers to share PHI without patient consent for the purposes of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. This means that if a medical professional needs to discuss a patient's medical history or current treatment with another healthcare provider to ensure cohesive patient care, it falls under permissible use of PHI. The emphasis is placed on the necessity of sharing this information to facilitate the delivery of appropriate medical care while still maintaining the patient's privacy as much as possible. In contrast, discussing patient details in public places, accessing a co-worker's medical records without consent, and posting patient information on social media are all violations of HIPAA regulations as they compromise patient confidentiality and do not align with the permissible uses outlined by the Privacy Rule. Thus, option C accurately reflects compliance with HIPAA guidelines.