Which regulation protects individually identifiable information about a patient's health?

Which regulation protects individually identifiable information about a patient's health?

• A. General Data Protection Regulation
• B. ADA
• C. FERPA
• D. HIPAA Privacy Rule

Answer: (D)

The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information, known as protected health information (PHI). It creates national standards for how PHI can be used and disclosed by covered entities—such as doctors, hospitals, health plans, and their business associates—and gives individuals rights over their records, including access, amendment, and an accounting of disclosures. This rule is designed to safeguard patient privacy while still enabling necessary activities like treatment, payment, and health care operations. While other regulations cover different areas—FERPA focuses on education records, GDPR governs general personal data in Europe, and the ADA addresses disability rights—the HIPAA Privacy Rule is specifically focused on health information and privacy within the healthcare system, making it the regulation that protects a patient’s health information.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information, known as protected health information (PHI). It creates national standards for how PHI can be used and disclosed by covered entities—such as doctors, hospitals, health plans, and their business associates—and gives individuals rights over their records, including access, amendment, and an accounting of disclosures. This rule is designed to safeguard patient privacy while still enabling necessary activities like treatment, payment, and health care operations. While other regulations cover different areas—FERPA focuses on education records, GDPR governs general personal data in Europe, and the ADA addresses disability rights—the HIPAA Privacy Rule is specifically focused on health information and privacy within the healthcare system, making it the regulation that protects a patient’s health information.