What must healthcare providers do to comply with HIPAA?

Healthcare providers must create a privacy notice and provide it to patients to comply with HIPAA requirements. This privacy notice is a fundamental aspect of HIPAA as it informs patients of their rights regarding their protected health information (PHI). It outlines how their information will be used and shared, the provider's obligations to protect that information, and the patient's rights to access and control their health information.

This notice ensures transparency and builds trust between healthcare providers and patients. By clearly articulating how patient data will be handled, providers uphold the privacy protections mandated by HIPAA, thereby creating a secure environment for managing sensitive health information.

The other choices do not fulfill the primary obligations set by HIPAA that protect patient information. For example, sharing patient information indiscriminately is contrary to HIPAA principles. Filing annual reports or conducting patient surveys are not essential requirements for maintaining compliance with HIPAA regulations.