Which entity is primarily responsible for helping individuals understand their HIPAA rights?

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing HIPAA regulations and ensuring that individuals understand their rights under the law. OCR provides guidance, resources, and educational materials to help individuals comprehend how their health information can be used and protected. It plays a critical role in addressing complaints regarding HIPAA violations and ensuring that covered entities comply with privacy and security rules.

While other entities, such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), play important roles in overall healthcare administration and regulation, their primary focus is not specifically on assisting individuals with understanding their HIPAA rights. Similarly, the Privacy Officer within an organization is primarily responsible for implementing HIPAA compliance and protecting patient information but may not be the first point of contact for individuals seeking to understand their rights. The Department of Health and Human Services at the state level also contributes to health services but does not specialize in HIPAA rights education in the same manner as the OCR. This focus on providing education and enforcement of rights makes the OCR the correct entity in this context.