What does HIPAA protect?

• A. The privacy and security of individuals' health information
• B. Healthcare provider licensing procedures
• C. Public access to all medical records
• D. Insurance claim processing standards

Answer: (A)

HIPAA protects the privacy and security of individuals' health information by setting rules for how health data can be used, disclosed, and safeguarded. It gives patients rights over their records, requires protections for electronic health information, and limits who can see PHI to the minimum necessary for a given purpose. This focus on confidentiality and data protection is what HIPAA aims to ensure across covered entities like providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses.

Licensing procedures are handled by state regulators, not HIPAA. Public access to all medical records would violate HIPAA’s privacy protections. And while HIPAA includes some standards for electronic transactions, the core protection is about privacy and security of health information.