Which act protects patient confidentiality and governs disclosure of patient information?

• A. Medical Records Privacy Act
• B. Patient Privacy and Protection Act
• C. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• D. Affordable Care Act

Answer: (C)

Protecting patient confidentiality and controlling how patient information is shared is governed by HIPAA. This act establishes rules for how protected health information, or PHI, can be used and disclosed by those who handle it, like doctors, hospitals, insurance plans, and their business partners. It sets who may access PHI, when disclosures are allowed without written authorization (such as for treatment, billing, or health-care operations, and certain emergencies or legal requirements), and requires safeguards to keep information private. It also gives patients rights over their own records, including access and correction options, and it imposes penalties for violations. Because HIPAA directly addresses privacy protections and the disclosure of health information, it is the law that specifically fits this description. The other options either do not represent real or central privacy laws or address broader healthcare reform rather than the specific rules for privacy and disclosure.