What is the primary purpose of HIPAA?

The primary purpose of HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is to protect patient privacy and secure health information. This legislation was enacted to establish a set of national standards aimed at safeguarding sensitive patient data, which includes any information that can be used to identify an individual, such as medical records, billing information, and other health-related data.

HIPAA mandates that healthcare providers, insurers, and other entities that handle protected health information (PHI) implement strict security measures to ensure that this information is not disclosed without patient consent. The act also gives patients rights over their health information, such as the right to access their records and request corrections. Therefore, protecting patient privacy and securing health information is at the very core of HIPAA's objectives.

Other options, while related to healthcare, do not encompass the primary aim of HIPAA. Ensuring fair billing practices, managing healthcare costs, and regulating healthcare providers are important aspects of healthcare management and policy but do not directly address the core issue of patient privacy and data protection that HIPAA is primarily designed to uphold.