What is the primary purpose of HIPAA?

The primary purpose of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is indeed to protect the privacy and security of individuals' health information. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA establishes national standards that govern the confidentiality and integrity of protected health information (PHI). This law requires healthcare providers, insurers, and their business associates to implement safeguards that secure patient information against unauthorized access, breaches, and misuse. It fundamentally empowers individuals by granting them rights over their health information, including the right to access their health records and request corrections.

While other options relate to significant aspects of healthcare, they do not encapsulate HIPAA's core intent. For instance, providing insurance coverage is addressed through other legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act. Similarly, regulating healthcare costs and ensuring equal access to healthcare services involve broader healthcare reforms that fall outside the specific scope of HIPAA's focus on privacy and data protection. Thus, the emphasis on safeguarding health information is what distinctly defines HIPAA's primary objective.