The abbreviation OCR refers to which office?

• A. Office for Civil Rights
• B. Office of Inspector General
• C. Office of Evaluation and Inspections
• D. Office of Investigations

Answer: (A)

OCR stands for the Office for Civil Rights. This is the part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that enforces civil rights laws and HIPAA protections related to health information. It handles complaints about discrimination and about the improper use or disclosure of protected health information, and it enforces HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules as well as breach notification requirements. The other offices have different functions: the Office of Inspector General focuses on audits and investigations of fraud and waste, the Office of Evaluation and Inspections conducts program reviews, and the Office of Investigations handles investigations. So the Office for Civil Rights is the correct choice because it specifically addresses civil rights and privacy protections in healthcare.