Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

What does the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) primarily regulate?

1. The transfer of patients from one facility to another

2. Clinical trials

3. Workplace safety

4. The rights of the individual related to privacy of health information

The correct answer is: The rights of the individual related to privacy of health information

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) primarily focuses on safeguarding the privacy and security of individuals' health information. HIPAA was enacted to protect patients' medical records and other personal health information, ensuring that such data is handled with confidentiality and only disclosed under specific circumstances. This includes establishing rules on how patient information should be protected and giving individuals certain rights over their health data, such as the right to access their medical records and request corrections. While aspects such as the transfer of patients or workplace safety are important in the healthcare field, they are not the central focus of HIPAA regulations. Clinical trials may be subject to different regulations that address ethical considerations and data management, but HIPAA specifically targets the privacy rights of individuals in relation to their health information. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the core purpose of HIPAA in protecting patient privacy.