What is considered a violation of HIPAA?

• A. Disclosing patient information without consent
• B. Failing to document medication administration
• C. Allowing unauthorized personnel access to medication records
• D. Providing medication without a prescription

Answer: (A)

Disclosing patient information without consent is indeed a violation of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). HIPAA establishes national standards for protecting individuals' medical records and other personal health information. The law mandates that healthcare providers, including pharmacists, must obtain patient consent before sharing any identifiable health information with third parties unless it falls under specific exceptions, such as for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

When a patient’s information is shared without their consent, it compromises the confidentiality and privacy that HIPAA is designed to protect. This breach can lead to significant penalties for the entities involved, including fines and legal repercussions.

The other options, while related to healthcare practices, do not directly pertain to HIPAA violations. Failing to document medication administration deals more with clinical practice standards and accountability rather than patient privacy rights. Allowing unauthorized personnel access to medication records poses a security risk but does not specifically address the patient information disclosure aspect covered under HIPAA. Providing medication without a prescription raises legal concerns related to pharmacy practices but does not directly correlate with HIPAA's privacy regulations.