What type of breach notification is required for breaches affecting less than 500 patients?

The correct choice indicates that when a breach affects fewer than 500 patients, it is necessary to notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) annually. This requirement is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, which stipulate that healthcare providers must report breaches of unsecured protected health information.

When a breach of this nature occurs, covered entities are required to maintain a log of the breaches affecting fewer than 500 patients and submit this log to HHS on an annual basis. This process ensures that HHS can monitor trends and potential risks in patient data security, while also holding organizations accountable for protecting patient information. The annual reporting allows for a systematic review without overwhelming HHS with individual notifications for every minor breach.

In situations where breaches affect 500 or more individuals, more immediate actions are required, including notifying affected patients and notifying HHS simultaneously. Since the question specifically pertains to breaches involving less than 500 patients, the annual notification requirement aligns with HIPAA guidelines aimed at both transparency and the efficient management of healthcare data security issues.