What are the criminal penalties for knowingly violating HIPAA?

The correct answer reflects the serious nature of knowingly violating HIPAA regulations, which are designed to protect patient privacy and safeguard health information. Under the law, if a person intentionally violates HIPAA rules with knowledge that such actions are wrongful, they may face significant consequences. The specified penalties include a fine of up to $250,000 and a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. This emphasizes how the system intends to deter individuals from compromising sensitive health information.

The severity of these penalties is crucial to maintain the integrity of the healthcare system, ensuring that individuals and organizations handle protected health information with the highest level of security and respect. By imposing such strict consequences, enforcing parties hope to uphold trust between patients and healthcare providers, which is foundational to effective healthcare delivery.