Which federal regulation is crucial to understanding PHI security?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the key federal regulation crucial for understanding the security of Protected Health Information (PHI). HIPAA was enacted to ensure that individuals' medical records and other personal health information are properly protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide high-quality health care. It sets forth a comprehensive framework that governs the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI, outlining a number of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that must be implemented by healthcare providers, health plans, and their business associates.

HIPAA’s Privacy Rule specifically establishes national standards for the protection of some health information, while the Security Rule focuses on safeguarding electronic PHI. Such regulations are essential for ensuring that sensitive health information is maintained securely and is accessed only by authorized individuals, fostering patient trust and compliance with the law.

While HITECH also plays a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness of HIPAA by addressing certain issues that emerged as technology evolved, its primary function is to promote the use of electronic health records and facilitate health information exchange, rather than establishing the foundational privacy protections for PHI. Medicare Part D and FERPA, on the other hand, relate to different areas—Medicare Part D focuses on prescription drug coverage for