AAMA CMA Practice Question

Notifying the affected patient(s) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is essential when there is a breach of unsecured protected health information. The HITECH Act emphasizes that covered entities must provide notification of breaches to the affected individuals without unreasonable delay and also report to the HHS, as this will ensure the incident is handled according to federal requirements. Implementing a stronger firewall is a proactive step to prevent future breaches but does not address the breach that already occurred. Changing passwords and recalibrating electronic health records systems are necessary actions but would fall short of the legal requirements in the event of a breach. The breach notification rule is a critical part of the HITECH Act's focus on privacy and security of health information.