Under HIPAA breach notification requirements, which entities must be notified after a data breach?

Under HIPAA breach notification requirements, which entities must be notified after a data breach?

• A. Affected individuals and authorities as required
• B. Only patients who complain
• C. No one
• D. All staff

Answer: (A)

HIPAA breach notification is about alerting the people at risk and getting the right authorities involved. When unsecured protected health information is breached, the entities responsible must tell the individuals whose data was exposed so they can take steps to protect themselves. At the same time, they must report the breach to the proper authorities—typically the Department of Health and Human Services and, where required by state laws, state regulators. If the breach is large (for example, involving 500 or more individuals), there’s also a requirement to notify the media. This combination—notify affected individuals and notify the appropriate authorities (and the media for large breaches)—is why saying that affected individuals and authorities as required is the best answer. It isn’t about waiting for complaints, informing all staff, or notifying no one.

HIPAA breach notification is about alerting the people at risk and getting the right authorities involved. When unsecured protected health information is breached, the entities responsible must tell the individuals whose data was exposed so they can take steps to protect themselves. At the same time, they must report the breach to the proper authorities—typically the Department of Health and Human Services and, where required by state laws, state regulators. If the breach is large (for example, involving 500 or more individuals), there’s also a requirement to notify the media. This combination—notify affected individuals and notify the appropriate authorities (and the media for large breaches)—is why saying that affected individuals and authorities as required is the best answer. It isn’t about waiting for complaints, informing all staff, or notifying no one.