Which of the following constitutes a breach under HIPAA?

The identification of an unauthorized acquisition or disclosure of protected health information (PHI) that compromises security as a breach under HIPAA is based on the fundamental principles of safeguarding patient information. A breach is defined as any ongoing, intentional, or unintentional acquisition of PHI that is not permitted under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and poses a significant risk of harm to an individual’s privacy.

When PHI is accessed or disclosed without the appropriate authority or outside the established protocols, it undermines the confidentiality and integrity of the information, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized individuals. Such actions could lead to various risks for affected individuals, including identity theft or discrimination based on their health information.

The other options represent activities that are generally acceptable under HIPAA or do not inherently involve unauthorized access or disclosure of PHI:

• Routine audits of health records are typically conducted under the provisions of HIPAA to ensure compliance and maintain privacy standards.

• A study aimed at improving healthcare efficiencies often falls within permissible research activities, provided that safeguards and approvals are in place.

• Accessing records for legitimate business purposes is an integral part of healthcare operations, assuming that it aligns with HIPAA guidelines for workforce members and is conducted with appropriate permissions.

Thus, it is clear that only