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HIPAA & Medical Answering Flashcards

6 cards from real Answering Service practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. What does HIPAA stand for?

    Answer: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

    HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted in 1996 to protect patient health information.

  2. Under HIPAA, what is considered Protected Health Information (PHI)?

    Answer: Any information that could identify a patient and relates to their health, care, or payment for care

    PHI includes any individually identifiable information related to a person's health status, medical care, or payment for healthcare services.

  3. Which of the following is a HIPAA violation in an answering service setting?

    Answer: Discussing a patient's medical details with an unauthorized third party

    Disclosing PHI to anyone not authorized under HIPAA — such as an unauthorized third party — constitutes a HIPAA violation.

  4. What is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in the context of HIPAA?

    Answer: A legal agreement between a covered entity and a service provider that handles PHI, outlining privacy responsibilities

    A BAA is a required HIPAA contract ensuring that third-party service providers, including answering services, protect PHI appropriately.

  5. How should an operator handle a call where a patient wants to discuss their medical condition in detail?

    Answer: Listen, take accurate notes, and relay only the necessary details to the appropriate medical professional

    Operators should gather necessary information and relay it securely to the authorized medical professional without engaging in medical advice or oversharing.

  6. What should an operator do if they accidentally disclose PHI to the wrong person?

    Answer: Immediately report the breach to their supervisor per the company's incident response protocol

    HIPAA requires that breaches be reported internally and, depending on severity, to the affected patient and HHS under the Breach Notification Rule.