CCBMA Administrative Practice Exam

Protecting the privacy of health information is governed by a federal law that sets nationwide standards for handling identifiable health data. This law creates a Privacy Rule that limits how health information can be used or disclosed without patient consent and gives individuals rights to access and request changes to their records. It also includes a Security Rule with safeguards for electronic health information and requires notification if a breach occurs. The protections apply to covered entities (like health plans, healthcare providers that transmit information electronically, and healthcare clearinghouses) and their business associates, ensuring consistent privacy across the healthcare system. Other laws address related but different areas: FERPA protects student education records, GLBA covers financial institution privacy of nonpublic personal information, and COBRA concerns continuation of health coverage after job loss. None of these center on protecting health information privacy in the same way HIPAA does.