Question

Violation of HIPAA standards is considered to be a:

1. federal criminal offense
2. local criminal offense
3. state criminal offense
4. misdemeanor

Answer 1

HIPAA violations are considered federal criminal offenses, with penalties including fines and imprisonment enforced on a federal level.

Step-by-step explanation:

Violation of HIPAA standards is considered to be a federal criminal offense. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal regulation that requires the confidentiality and privacy of health information to be protected. HIPAA violations can attract serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach. These penalties are enforced on a federal level, and they reflect the importance of maintaining patient privacy and the secure handling of health information. The act does not classify violations on the basis of local, state, or specific types of misdemeanors, but as a matter of federal law.