What federal regulation governs privacy and security in health care?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the federal regulation that specifically addresses privacy and security in healthcare. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA provides standards to protect sensitive patient information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. The law establishes rules for healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses regarding the handling of individually identifiable health information.

HIPAA ensures that patients have important rights, such as the right to access their health records and the right to request corrections. Additionally, HIPAA sets forth requirements for how organizations must safeguard electronic medical records and other health information, ensuring that adequate measures are in place to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access.

While the other legislation mentioned has implications for healthcare, none focus on privacy and security in the same targeted manner as HIPAA. For instance, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act primarily addresses access to healthcare and insurance reforms rather than directly managing privacy issues. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act builds upon HIPAA by promoting the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology but does not govern privacy and security on its own. The Social Security Act is focused on social insurance programs and does not specifically address the privacy of patient information in healthcare settings.