CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of HIPAA?

1. To ensure medical records are available to the public

2. To protect patient privacy and information

3. To regulate medical billing

4. To oversee pharmaceuticals

The correct answer is: To protect patient privacy and information

The primary purpose of HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is to protect patient privacy and information. HIPAA establishes national standards for the protection of certain health information, focusing on safeguarding patients' medical records and other personal health information from unauthorized access or breaches. This legislation ensures that individuals' health information is kept confidential and secure, aiming to enhance the privacy rights of patients while still allowing them access to their medical records. The other options involve aspects of healthcare regulation but do not accurately capture the essence of HIPAA. For instance, while HIPAA has implications for medical billing by ensuring that certain information is kept private, its foundational purpose is rooted in the protection of personal health information. Similarly, regulating medical billing or overseeing pharmaceuticals does not pertain to the central aim of HIPAA, which is to establish and enforce data privacy measures in healthcare settings.