Fact · Dictation
The HIPAA Security Rule lists encryption and decryption of electronic protected health information as an addressable implementation specification.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“(iv) Encryption and decryption (Addressable). Implement a mechanism to encrypt and decrypt electronic protected health information.”
45 CFR 164.312: Technical safeguards (HIPAA Security Rule), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (text reproduced by Cornell Legal Information Institute), 2013.
Open the original- What it measures
- Matters for dictation files, which are often patient information sent between authors and transcriptionists.
- What it does not show
- Addressable means the organization must assess the safeguard and document a decision, not that encryption is optional in every case.
Source
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