What must a healthcare organization do if a breach of PHI occurs?

A healthcare organization is required to follow specific protocols when a breach of Protected Health Information (PHI) occurs to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The correct course of action involves notifying the affected individuals whose information was compromised and reporting the breach to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This requirement is designed to protect patients' rights and to enable them to take necessary precautions if their information has been exposed.

Notifying affected individuals allows them to understand the potential implications of the breach on their health information and provides them with guidance on how to mitigate any risks, such as identity theft or fraud. Reporting the breach to HHS is also a vital step that contributes to the government's oversight and enforcement of HIPAA regulations, ensuring that organizations are held accountable for maintaining the confidentiality and security of health information.

In contrast, options that involve deleting compromised data or ignoring small breaches do not align with HIPAA's mandates, as all breaches, regardless of size, must be reported. Similarly, publicly announcing the breach to the media is not automatically required under HIPAA; such actions are typically governed by specific circumstances and organizational policies, rather than being a standard procedure for all breaches. Thus, the responsibility to notify individuals and report