South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

To whom should HIPAA violations be reported?

1. Local police department

2. DHHS Office for Civil Rights

3. State pharmacy board

4. Compliance officer

The correct answer is: DHHS Office for Civil Rights

HIPAA violations should be reported to the DHHS Office for Civil Rights because this office is responsible for enforcing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The Office for Civil Rights handles complaints related to the privacy and security rules established by HIPAA and investigates these allegations to ensure compliance with federal law. Reporting violations to this office allows individuals to contribute to upholding patient privacy rights and maintaining the integrity of health information systems. While other options may involve certain reporting mechanisms in different contexts, such as a compliance officer who oversees internal compliance or the state pharmacy board that regulates pharmacy practice, the DHHS Office for Civil Rights is specifically equipped and designated to address HIPAA concerns on a federal level, making it the appropriate entity for reporting such violations.