Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

Which of the following would not be a violation of HIPAA?

1. Discussing patient medications with unauthorized personnel

2. Medicaid patient not being offered consent on new medication

3. Disclosure of patient information to family members without consent

4. Accessing patient information without a valid reason

The correct answer is: Medicaid patient not being offered consent on new medication

The choice regarding Medicaid patients not being offered consent on new medication is the correct answer, as it does not constitute a violation of HIPAA. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is focused on protecting the privacy and security of patient information. However, the act does not specifically address the requirement for patient consent regarding the initiation of new medications in the same manner it addresses unauthorized sharing of personal health information. In cases involving patient consent, there are often state laws or regulations that may require consent before administering new medications, but these are separate from the federal regulations under HIPAA. Therefore, failing to offer consent might be a violation of other legal or ethical standards, but not specifically a HIPAA violation. In contrast, discussing patient medications with unauthorized personnel, disclosing information to family members without consent, and accessing patient information without a valid reason are all actions that directly violate HIPAA regulations, which mandate strict safeguards on patient information and the necessity of obtaining consent before sharing such information.