Which of the following is a purpose of the HIPAA Security Rule?

The purpose of the HIPAA Security Rule is primarily focused on safeguarding electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) from unauthorized access. This rule establishes a set of standards and safeguards to protect sensitive patient data that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted in electronic form. By requiring appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, the Security Rule ensures that ePHI is kept confidential, maintains its integrity, and is available to authorized individuals when needed. This aspect is crucial in preventing data breaches and ensuring that individuals' health information remains secure in electronic formats.

Other options pertain to different aspects of healthcare, such as improving billing processes or promoting health information exchanges, but they do not specifically address the fundamental goal of the Security Rule, which is to protect electronic health information from unauthorized access. Similarly, while data sharing can enhance patient care, it does not align with the core purpose of the Security Rule. The focus remains unequivocally on the security measures required to protect ePHI.