Wisconsin Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

What legal act ensures the protection of confidentiality in healthcare?

1. Patient Care Act

2. HIPAA

3. Health Information Act

4. Medical Confidentiality Act

The correct answer is: HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a landmark piece of legislation that establishes national standards for protecting sensitive patient health information. It mandates that healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities that handle health information must implement measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI). HIPAA not only governs the sharing and privacy of health information but also gives patients rights over their own medical records, including the right to access their information and request corrections. The act applies to all health care providers who conduct certain transactions electronically, thereby creating a standardized approach to safeguarding health information nationwide. The concept of legal protection of health data under HIPAA is crucial in today’s healthcare environment, especially with the rise of digital healthcare records. It serves to maintain trust in the healthcare system by assuring patients that their personal health information will be handled with care and not disclosed without their consent.