What law established regulations for healthcare privacy and security?

What law established regulations for healthcare privacy and security?

• A. The Affordable Care Act
• B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• C. The Patient Protection Act
• D. The Health Reform Act

Answer: (B)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the correct answer because it specifically laid the groundwork for healthcare privacy and security regulations in the United States. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA was designed to protect sensitive patient information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. It established national standards for the protection of health information, addressing the security and privacy concerns associated with electronic health transactions and records. One of the critical provisions of HIPAA is the Privacy Rule, which governs the use and disclosure of individual health information by various entities, including healthcare providers, insurers, and health information clearinghouses. Additionally, the Security Rule sets standards for safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI), ensuring that healthcare organizations implement necessary security measures to protect against unauthorized access. The other options mentioned either do not address healthcare privacy specifically or focus on different aspects of healthcare policy. The Affordable Care Act primarily focuses on expanding healthcare coverage and access, while the Patient Protection Act and the Health Reform Act refer to other legislative measures that do not emphasize privacy and security regulations like HIPAA does.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the correct answer because it specifically laid the groundwork for healthcare privacy and security regulations in the United States. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA was designed to protect sensitive patient information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. It established national standards for the protection of health information, addressing the security and privacy concerns associated with electronic health transactions and records.

One of the critical provisions of HIPAA is the Privacy Rule, which governs the use and disclosure of individual health information by various entities, including healthcare providers, insurers, and health information clearinghouses. Additionally, the Security Rule sets standards for safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI), ensuring that healthcare organizations implement necessary security measures to protect against unauthorized access.

The other options mentioned either do not address healthcare privacy specifically or focus on different aspects of healthcare policy. The Affordable Care Act primarily focuses on expanding healthcare coverage and access, while the Patient Protection Act and the Health Reform Act refer to other legislative measures that do not emphasize privacy and security regulations like HIPAA does.