COPE Health Scholars Practice Test

Which HIPAA Rule ensures that PHI is available to the patient upon request?

1. Privacy Rule

2. Security Rule

3. Breach Notification Rule

4. Minimum Necessary Rule

The correct answer is: Security Rule

The correct choice for which HIPAA Rule ensures that PHI is available to the patient upon request is the Privacy Rule. This rule establishes standards for the protection of individuals' medical records and personal health information. It grants patients the right to access their health information, including the ability to request copies of their medical records. The Privacy Rule also outlines the procedures that healthcare entities must follow when a patient makes such requests, ensuring that patients can obtain their PHI in a timely manner. The Security Rule focuses specifically on the protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI), establishing safeguards for its confidentiality, integrity, and availability but does not directly address patient access to their records. The Breach Notification Rule requires that patients be notified if their PHI has been compromised but does not relate to their rights to access that information. The Minimum Necessary Rule sets standards for limiting the disclosure of PHI to the minimum necessary for the intended purpose but also does not address patient access rights. Thus, the Privacy Rule is fundamentally centered on patient rights regarding their own health information, including access and the ability to obtain their PHI upon request.