Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

One reason that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created is to?

1. Help keep health information private and secure

2. Help ombudsman monitor care in facilities

3. Ensure that nursing assistants receive adequate health insurance coverage

4. Prevent abuse and neglect of residents

The correct answer is: Help keep health information private and secure

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created primarily to establish standards for safeguarding the privacy and security of individuals' health information. One of the core purposes of HIPAA is to protect patient information from unauthorized access and disclosure, thereby ensuring that health records remain confidential. This is vital in maintaining patient trust in the healthcare system, as individuals need to feel secure that their sensitive health information will be handled responsibly and protected from data breaches or mishandling. While the other choices mention important aspects of healthcare and patient protection, they do not encapsulate the primary intent of HIPAA. For instance, monitoring care or preventing abuse and neglect involves broader regulatory and advocacy efforts and doesn't specifically pertain to the protection of private health information. Additionally, while ensuring adequate health insurance coverage is a significant healthcare concern, it falls outside the specific aims of HIPAA, which are focused on information privacy and security. Thus, the emphasis on keeping health information private and secure is clearly aligned with HIPAA's foundational objectives.