If there are less than 500 breaches, what is the deadline for reporting to the secretary of DHHS?

The correct answer for the deadline for reporting breaches to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when there are less than 500 breaches is indeed 60 days. This requirement is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, which specify that covered entities must notify the Secretary of DHHS of any breaches involving unsecured protected health information.

The 60-day timeline emphasizes the importance of timely reporting to ensure that necessary actions can be taken to mitigate any potential harm from the breach. This period allows covered entities to investigate the breaches and gather the necessary information for thorough reporting while ensuring that the process remains expedited.

In comparison, other time frames mentioned are not aligned with HIPAA's specified requirements for reporting breaches of this nature, underscoring the specific importance of the 60-day deadline which provides a balance between the need for thoroughness in the investigation and the urgency of reporting incidents that could impact patient privacy and security.