Which of the following is NOT a type of safeguard recognized by HIPAA?

The correct answer indicates that "Operational" is not a recognized type of safeguard under HIPAA. HIPAA outlines specific types of safeguards to protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI), which include technical, physical, and administrative safeguards.

Technical safeguards refer to the technology and the policy and procedures for its use that protect electronic PHI. Examples include encryption, firewalls, and access control measures.

Physical safeguards involve the physical protection of electronic systems and the facilities that house them, such as locks, security cameras, and controlled access to buildings.

Administrative safeguards encompass the policies and procedures designed to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures to protect PHI. This includes workforce training and contingency planning.

While the term "operational safeguards" might be used in some contexts to refer to processes and procedures an organization puts in place, HIPAA does not formally recognize "operational" safeguards as a distinct category. Therefore, identifying "Operational" as not being a type of safeguard aligns with HIPAA's classifications.