What type of error is considered a HIPAA violation?

A privacy breach involving the unauthorized disclosure of patient information is considered a HIPAA violation. An omission error happens when a healthcare provider fails to provide necessary information, which may lead to violations of a patient's privacy if their data is not correctly handled or shared. In this context, the failure to ensure that protected health information (PHI) is kept confidential can result in a violation of HIPAA regulations.

While commission errors, dispensing errors, and prescribing errors focus more on mistakes made during the medication process—such as giving the wrong drug or dosage—they may not necessarily involve the unauthorized disclosure of patient information unless they lead to a scenario where a patient's confidentiality is compromised. Therefore, the context of an omission error aligns directly with HIPAA's emphasis on the protection and appropriate handling of patient data.