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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

HIPAA Compliance Test: Check Your Privacy and Security Know-How

Quick, free HIPAA compliance quiz with instant results and answer feedback.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Djchinoleyder El VacanUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art illustrating a fun HIPAA Compliance Quiz

This HIPAA compliance test helps you check your grasp of privacy and security rules in 15 multiple-choice questions. See your score right away and review quick tips; then try the HIPAA security rule quiz, take a hipaa practice test, or explore basics in the protected health information quiz.

What does HIPAA stand for?
Healthcare Information Privacy and Availability Act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Health Institution Privacy and Accountability Act
Health Information Protection and Access Act
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This law sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient data.
Which of the following is considered Protected Health Information (PHI)?
A hospital's general performance report
De-identified statistical data
Publicly available health statistics
A patient's medical record number
PHI includes any individually identifiable health information such as medical record numbers. Aggregated or de-identified data are not considered PHI under HIPAA.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule primarily protects which of the following?
Employee payroll information
General public health data
Hospital financial records
Individually identifiable health information
The Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information in any form. It does not apply to general public health statistics or non-health-related records.
Which entity is classified as a covered entity under HIPAA?
A food distributor supplying hospital cafeterias
A healthcare provider transmitting health information electronically
A pharmaceutical company advertising drugs
A public library lending medical books
Covered entities include healthcare providers who electronically transmit health information. Entities not involved in health transactions are not covered under HIPAA.
What does the HIPAA "minimum necessary" standard require?
Retaining PHI indefinitely for audit purposes
Sharing full medical records with all staff members
Limiting use and disclosure of PHI to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose
Encrypting all PHI regardless of purpose
The minimum necessary standard mandates that only the smallest amount of PHI needed for a task be accessed or disclosed. It does not require sharing full records or indefinite retention.
Which of the following is an example of a technical safeguard under the HIPAA Security Rule?
Workforce security training
Locked filing cabinets
Security management process
Encrypting data at rest
Encryption of data at rest is a technical safeguard required by the Security Rule. Locked cabinets are physical safeguards, and training and management are administrative.
What is an example of a physical safeguard required by the HIPAA Security Rule?
Conducting a risk analysis
Facility access controls for servers
Audit control implementation
User authentication procedures
Facility access controls, like locked server rooms, are physical safeguards. Audit controls and authentication are technical, while risk analysis is administrative.
Which of the following is an administrative safeguard under the HIPAA Security Rule?
Installing door locks
Implementing antivirus software
Encrypting ePHI
Conducting a regular risk analysis
Regular risk analysis is an administrative safeguard. Encryption is a technical safeguard, door locks are physical, and antivirus software falls under technical as well.
Under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, covered entities must notify the Secretary of HHS of a breach affecting more than 500 individuals within how many days?
90 days
120 days
60 days
30 days
For breaches affecting over 500 individuals, notification to HHS must occur within 60 days. The shorter timelines apply only when fewer individuals are affected.
How many identifiers must be removed from a data set for it to be considered de-identified under HIPAA?
21
18
25
16
The Privacy Rule lists 18 specific identifiers that must be removed to de-identify data. Removing fewer than 18 does not meet the standard.
What best practice ensures only authorized personnel can access electronic health records?
Allowing open workstation access
Sending PHI via unsecured email
Storing passwords on a shared spreadsheet
Implementing role-based access control
Role-based access control limits PHI access based on job duties. Unsecured email, shared spreadsheets, and open workstations undermine security.
Which procedure helps secure mobile devices that contain PHI?
Disabling antivirus software
Storing PHI offline only
Enabling device encryption and strong passwords
Connecting only to public Wi-Fi
Encrypting devices and using strong passwords protect data on mobile devices. Public Wi-Fi and disabling antivirus increase risk.
What is an appropriate method for disposing of paper records containing PHI?
Shredding or pulverizing the documents
Erasing with software tools
Storing them in a locked box indefinitely
Recycling without shredding
Shredding or pulverizing paper records destroys PHI and meets disposal requirements. Recycling without shredding or software erasure is ineffective for paper.
During a potential breach investigation, what is the first step a covered entity should take?
Shut down all systems
Conduct a risk assessment to determine if PHI was compromised
Notify patients immediately
Inform the media
A risk assessment determines if a breach occurred and the extent of compromise. Only then should notifications and further actions proceed.
Which of the following practices violates the HIPAA minimum necessary rule?
Providing a limited summary of patient allergies
Disclosing only dates of service as requested
Using de-identified data for research
Sending an entire medical record when only lab results are needed
Sharing entire medical records when only specific data are needed exceeds the minimum necessary. Summaries, specific data, and de-identified information comply with the rule.
Under HIPAA, covered entities must have which type of contract with business associates handling PHI?
Business Associate Agreement
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Data Use Agreement
Service Level Agreement
A Business Associate Agreement is required by HIPAA to ensure business associates safeguard PHI. Other contract types do not meet HIPAA's specific requirements.
Which encryption standard is commonly recommended to safeguard ePHI under HIPAA?
AES 256-bit
SHA-1
MD5
DES
AES 256-bit encryption is widely accepted for protecting ePHI. DES, MD5, and SHA-1 are outdated or not intended for full-disk encryption of sensitive data.
When performing a HIPAA risk analysis, which element is essential?
Encrypting data without assessment
Identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities to ePHI
Purchasing the latest hardware
Training only executive staff
Risk analysis involves identifying threats and vulnerabilities to ePHI. Buying hardware or partial training without analysis does not fulfill the requirement.
A vendor reports a breach of PHI affecting 200 individuals. What must the covered entity do?
Report to HHS within 60 days only
Notify affected individuals without unreasonable delay
Issue a press release immediately
Wait 90 days to assess impact
For breaches affecting fewer than 500 individuals, covered entities must notify affected individuals without unreasonable delay. HHS notification timelines differ based on breach size.
Which security measure helps ensure the integrity of ePHI during transmission?
Using digital signatures or hash-based message authentication codes
Applying role-based access control
Implementing data masking
Installing door access systems
Digital signatures and HMACs verify that ePHI has not been altered in transit. Data masking, access control, and physical locks address other security aspects.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key requirements of HIPAA privacy rules
  2. Describe the components of HIPAA security standards
  3. Apply best practices for safeguarding patient data
  4. Analyze scenarios involving protected health information
  5. Evaluate procedures for breach notification
  6. Demonstrate proper handling of electronic health records

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the Core Purpose of HIPAA - HIPAA isn't just a set of letters; it's the superhero cape for your medical records, wrapping them in privacy and security. By setting national standards, it ensures that healthcare organizations handle your sensitive health data with care and respect.
  2. Identify Covered Entities and Their Responsibilities - Not everyone deals with PHI, so HIPAA draws a clear line around who must play by the rules. Health plans, clearinghouses, and healthcare providers using electronic transactions all wear the HIPAA badge and must protect patient data.
  3. Comprehend the Privacy Rule's Key Provisions - Think of the Privacy Rule as the guardian of patient rights, granting individuals control over their own health information. It defines how PHI can be used or disclosed, and lays down the law on required safeguards.
  4. Explore the Security Rule's Safeguards - The Security Rule brings the tech muscle, demanding administrative, physical, and technical shields to keep ePHI safe. Imagine it as a three-tiered fortress ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
  5. Implement Administrative Safeguards - Policies, training, risk assessments, and contingency planning all live here - administrative safeguards are the brains behind the operation. They guide your team on how to respond when cyber-villains come knocking.
  6. Establish Physical Safeguards - Locking down server rooms and controlling building access aren't just security clichés - they're physical safeguards in action. From badge readers to secure workstations, these measures keep nosy intruders out.
  7. Apply Technical Safeguards - Encryption, unique user IDs, and audit logs are your digital defenders against unauthorized ePHI access. Think of firewalls and transmission security as the high-tech moat around your data castle.
  8. Understand the Minimum Necessary Standard - Sharing only the smallest slice of PHI needed for a task keeps privacy strong and breaches at bay. Always ask, "Do I really need to see this?" before hitting send.
  9. Recognize the Importance of Business Associate Agreements - When you team up with vendors who touch PHI, a Business Associate Agreement is your golden ticket. It ensures everyone in the chain follows HIPAA's playbook for safeguarding data.
  10. Stay Informed About Recent Updates - HIPAA evolves like any epic saga, with proposed tweaks for cybersecurity, multi-factor authentication, and more. Keep your compliance cape shiny by tracking the latest rule changes.
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