What does HIPAA primarily protect?

The choice concerning the protection of a patient's medical information aligns with the primary focus of HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA was established to ensure the confidentiality and security of an individual's health information. This act sets strict regulations regarding how healthcare providers, insurance companies, and their business associates handle protected health information (PHI).

Under HIPAA, patients have rights over their medical records and can control who accesses their information, which prevents unauthorized disclosure. This is essential to maintaining patient trust and encouraging individuals to seek medical care without fear of their private health details being exposed.

Though financial information may be indirectly protected under HIPAA when it's related to health care, the act's primary purpose is to safeguard medical information specifically. Additionally, hospital business strategies and access to facilities do not fall under the protections outlined by HIPAA, as they do not concern patient health information directly.