Final answer:
An unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of patient health information is known as a HIPAA violation. HIPAA sets the standards for the protection of patient information and requires healthcare providers to maintain strict confidentiality.
Step-by-step explanation:
An unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of patient health information is known as a HIPAA violation. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets the standards for the protection of patient information and requires healthcare providers to maintain strict confidentiality. If a healthcare provider contacts a patient's sexual partners without the patient's consent, it would be a violation of HIPAA rules.