What is the primary purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

The primary purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule is to protect patient health information. This regulation was established to ensure that individuals' medical records and personal health information are kept confidential and secure. By setting standards for the protection of health information, the Privacy Rule safeguards patients' rights to understand and control how their information is used and disclosed.

This includes rights that allow patients to access their records, request corrections, and receive notices on how their information is handled. Protecting patient health information is vital for maintaining trust in the healthcare system, ensuring that sensitive data doesn't fall into the wrong hands, and minimizing the likelihood of breaches that could harm individuals both personally and financially.