What is the main focus of administrative safeguards in HIPAA?

The main focus of administrative safeguards in HIPAA is to ensure that there are effective policies and procedures in place for managing the security of electronic protected health information (ePHI). This involves creating frameworks within an organization that address the management, training, and oversight related to ePHI security. Administrative safeguards help establish the organizational practices that guide the handling and protection of sensitive healthcare data, ensuring that all employees understand their responsibilities in maintaining data security and compliance with HIPAA regulations.

These policies might include risk assessment procedures, workforce training programs, and guidelines for responding to data breaches. By developing and implementing such policies, organizations can provide a structured approach to safeguarding ePHI, reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access and breaches.

Other choices focus on technical aspects or physical security measures but do not capture the essence of administrative safeguards, which centers on governance and operational management of healthcare information security.