What must patients be informed about regarding their health information?

Patients must be informed about how their health information may be used and shared because this is a fundamental aspect of their rights under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). HIPAA mandates that healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities disclose to patients their privacy practices, which includes how their protected health information (PHI) might be utilized for treatment, billing, healthcare operations, and research, among other purposes. This transparency helps patients understand the flow of their information, fosters trust in their healthcare providers, and ensures they can make informed decisions regarding their health.

The other options do not align with the requirements set forth by HIPAA. For instance, while patients have the right to request changes to their records if they believe the information is incorrect, they cannot change everything unilaterally. Discussing health is crucial for ongoing care, and telling patients to avoid such discussions would be counterproductive. Additionally, health information is not considered public domain; there are strict regulations about who can access and share this type of information without patient consent.