Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Who benefits from the secure transporting of health information facilitated by HIE?

1. Patients only

2. Authorized providers treating the same patient

3. Insurance companies

4. Data brokers

The correct answer is: Authorized providers treating the same patient

The secure transporting of health information facilitated by Health Information Exchanges (HIE) primarily benefits authorized providers treating the same patient. This is because HIEs enable healthcare providers to efficiently share patient information, ensuring that all relevant medical history, treatment plans, and previous test results are available when providing care. By having access to complete and accurate health data, providers can improve diagnosis accuracy, minimize duplicative tests, and enhance overall patient safety and care coordination. While patients also benefit from improved care and outcomes, and insurance companies may find administrative processes streamlined through better data sharing, the core function of HIE is to enhance the collaboration and communication among providers involved in a patient's care. Data brokers typically do not play a role in the secure exchange of personal health information in this context.