Under HIPAA, what is required in the PA-supervising physician relationship?

• A. The supervising physician alone bears responsibility; the PA has no confidentiality obligation.
• B. Both must protect patient confidentiality, securely handle information, obtain proper consent where required, and ensure privacy training and compliance.
• C. HIPAA only applies to hospitals, not clinics.
• D. The PA is exempt from HIPAA with physician supervision.

Answer: (B)

The essential idea here is that HIPAA creates shared obligations to protect patient privacy in a PA‑supervising physician relationship. Both the PA and the supervising physician are responsible for safeguarding patient confidentiality, handling all PHI securely, obtaining proper consent or authorization when required, and ensuring privacy training and ongoing compliance. This reflects that HIPAA applies to the entire healthcare team and to the covered entity, not to one person alone, and that privacy and security practices must be maintained in every setting where PHI is accessed or transmitted.

Why this fits best: it captures the dual responsibility and the need for proper training, secure handling, and appropriate consent, which are central to HIPAA’s privacy and security rules. In practice, this means secure storage and transmission of PHI, limiting access to the minimum necessary, and ensuring staff are trained on privacy requirements and aware of the proper procedures for disclosures.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: the supervising physician isn’t solely responsible with the PA having no confidentiality obligation, and HIPAA governs all covering entities and their workforce, not just hospitals; PAs are not exempt from HIPAA merely because they work under supervision.