A remote hospital coder finishes assigned accounts early and begins opening unrelated celebrity and neighbor charts 'to practice.' Which HIPAA principle is violated?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Having a login is not a backstage pass. Open the charts assigned for coding—period. Peeking at celebrities or neighbors for practice breaks minimum necessary cold.
Full Explanation
HIPAA's minimum necessary standard requires workforce members to limit uses and disclosures of protected health information to what is needed for their role. Coders may access records required to complete assigned coding work, not unrelated charts for curiosity or informal practice. Unauthorized access is a compliance violation regardless of whether codes are billed.