Which type of breach must be reported to affected individuals?

The choice indicating that any unauthorized access to patient information must be reported to affected individuals is correct due to the requirements established under laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under HIPAA, when there is a breach of unsecured protected health information (PHI), it is necessary to notify the affected individuals. This requirement is in place to ensure that patients are aware when their personal health information has potentially been compromised, enabling them to take appropriate actions to protect themselves from potential identity theft or privacy violations.

Unauthorized access to patient information is serious, as it can lead to misuse of sensitive data. Even if the access does not lead to harm, the mere act of unauthorized access triggers the obligation to notify individuals to uphold transparency and maintain trust in the healthcare system. This commitment to informing patients is critical in addressing the broader implications of data security and patient rights.

Options that refer to medical record errors, financial discrepancies, or simple clerical mistakes do not carry the same level of risk or legal obligation for notification. Such items may be categorized as administrative errors rather than breaches of privacy involving unauthorized access to patient information. Hence, they do not require reporting to individuals under the same legislative frameworks.