Massachusetts Health & Accident Insurance Practice Exam

How often must a notice of information practices be provided to a policyholder under HIPAA?

1. Every year

2. Every two years

3. Every three years

4. Every five years

The correct answer is: Every three years

The requirement for providing a notice of information practices under HIPAA is that this notice must be given every three years. This regulation ensures that individuals are regularly informed about how their protected health information (PHI) is handled and what rights they have regarding their information. The notice typically includes details about how information is collected, used, and shared, as well as the policyholder's rights concerning their own health information. The three-year interval is designed to keep the policyholder informed and up-to-date, especially considering that practices regarding privacy and security can evolve over time. The other intervals suggested, such as yearly, every two years, or every five years, do not align with the HIPAA regulations, which are specifically designed to maintain awareness and understanding of privacy practices over a consistent and reasonable time frame. This ensures that individuals can make informed decisions regarding their health information and maintain control over their personal data.