HIPAA Privacy Officer
The workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.530(a)(1)(i) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA privacy policies.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- Compliance Program
- Primary sources
- 1
- Workspace handoff
- compliance binder →
Where this comes up
Compliance committees and practice managers operate at this level — written policy, workforce training, sanction policy, monitoring and auditing cadence, response and corrective action. The seven elements of an effective compliance program (OIG) are the scaffolding; this term lives somewhere on that scaffold.
Full definition
What it is in practice
45 CFR 164.530(a)(1)(i) requires every covered entity to designate a privacy officer. The role is required regardless of practice size.
How it shows up in your practice
Name the privacy officer in writing and publish contact information so workforce and patients know whom to reach.
Sources
- 45 CFR 164.530 — Administrative requirementshttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.530
Document the privacy officer role in the Compliance Binder
Open compliance binder →Related terms
- Compliance ProgramHIPAA Security OfficerThe workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(2) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA security policies.
- Compliance ProgramCompliance OfficerThe designated individual responsible for operating the practice's compliance program.
- HIPAA & PrivacyHIPAA Privacy RuleThe federal regulation at 45 CFR Part 164 Subpart E that governs the use and disclosure of PHI.
D3rx is a healthcare-billing and compliance research aid maintained by D3rx Inc. Articles are drafted by an LLM (Anthropic Claude) against primary HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and state-regulator publications, and reviewed for restraint and source fidelity by the D3rx team.
Reviewer status: a named credentialed reviewer (CHC, CHPC, or healthcare attorney) is being engaged. Until that engagement is finalized, this page does not claim credentialed review.
Related across the archive
- GlossaryHIPAA Privacy RuleThe federal regulation at 45 CFR Part 164 Subpart E that governs the use and disclosure of PHI.
- GlossaryHIPAA Security OfficerThe workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(2) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA security policies.
- GlossaryCompliance OfficerThe designated individual responsible for operating the practice's compliance program.
- GlossaryFour-Factor Breach Risk AssessmentThe four-factor analysis at 45 CFR 164.402 used to determine whether an impermissible use or disclosure of PHI is a reportable breach.
- GlossaryNotice of Privacy PracticesThe written notice covered entities must provide to patients describing how PHI may be used and disclosed and patient rights regarding PHI.
- ComplianceHIPAA Privacy Officer: Required Duties + Job Description Template (2026)The 2026 HIPAA Privacy Officer role: what 45 CFR 164.530(a) requires, duties auditors look for, and a copy-paste job description for small practices.
- BillingWhat to Do When a Payer Says You're UnderbillingGot a letter saying you're underbilling? Here's what it actually means, whether you should worry, and what action to take.
- SRAHIPAA Security Rule vs Privacy Rule: A Plain-English MapWhat the Security Rule at 45 CFR Part 164 Subpart C does, what the Privacy Rule at Subpart E does, where they overlap, and which rule the SRA actually answers to.
This glossary entry is a research aid for billing and compliance staff. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice and does not replace counsel. References cited link to primary sources at HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and the relevant payer or industry body.