Which regulation protects the privacy of PHI in the healthcare industry?

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is the regulation dedicated to protecting the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI) in the healthcare industry. Established in 1996, HIPAA sets national standards for how healthcare providers must handle and protect PHI, which includes any individually identifiable health information held by a covered entity or business associate.

The act outlines specific rights for patients regarding their own health information, including the right to access their records, request corrections, and receive an accounting of disclosures. HIPAA mandates that healthcare organizations implement numerous safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of PHI. Additionally, it requires organizations to train their staff on privacy practices and establish compliance measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive health information.

This focus on protecting patient information and setting up protocols for safeguarding data distinguishes HIPAA clearly from the other regulations mentioned, which pertain to different aspects of privacy and compliance in either healthcare or education contexts.