What is a violation of HIPAA classified as?

A violation of HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is classified as a federal criminal offense because HIPAA establishes standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent. When an entity knowingly violates these standards, particularly in a way that causes harm or is done with malicious intent, it can lead to serious legal ramifications.

Federal criminal penalties under HIPAA can include substantial fines and even imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation and whether it was committed knowingly. This is an important distinction, as it underscores the federal government's commitment to safeguarding personal health information and the serious consequences faced by individuals or organizations that fail to uphold these standards.

Other classifications in the options, such as civil offenses, typically involve less serious violations often leading to fines or penalties rather than criminal charges; misdemeanors are less severe criminal infractions; and state violations would pertain to local laws rather than the federal statute governing healthcare privacy. Thus, defining HIPAA violations as federal criminal offenses elevates the seriousness of non-compliance in a healthcare context.