Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) Practice Exam

HIPAA regulations, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, primarily focus on protecting the privacy and security of individuals' health information. The act delineates certain situations and purposes for which the use and disclosure of health information are permissible without restriction under HIPAA.

In the context of health information used for research, HIPAA does not necessarily apply if proper protocols are followed, such as de-identifying the information or using it under a waiver of authorization that aligns with the regulations. Research activities can often use health information in a manner that is permissible under specific research regulations as long as individual identifiers are removed or if the research meets certain criteria outlined in HIPAA legislation.

In contrast, treatment and billing, quality assurance and peer review, and business planning activities all involve instances where HIPAA regulations are applicable. These activities often require the handling of protected health information, which HIPAA aims to safeguard to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality.