Which law protects patient health information privacy?

• A. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• B. Employability skills
• C. Chain of command
• D. Ambulatory care

Answer: (A)

Protecting patient privacy is central to healthcare law and daily practice. The law that specifically governs how patient health information can be used and shared is HIPAA. It establishes national standards for safeguarding protected health information, requires security measures for electronic records, and gives patients rights to access and request corrections to their information. It also outlines penalties for improper disclosures. In real-world care, this means only sharing PHI with authorized staff who need it to treat or bill for care, keeping records secure, and avoiding unnecessary disclosures. The other terms do not address privacy rules: general employability skills, organizational reporting structure, and outpatient care settings are unrelated to legal protections for health information. HIPAA is the law that protects patient health information privacy.