What is the primary goal of HIPAA?

The primary goal of HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is to establish standards for the protection of patient information, specifically in how protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed. This law was enacted to ensure that individuals' medical records and other personal health information are adequately safeguarded, providing patients with greater control over their health information.

By focusing on the regulation of PHI, HIPAA addresses critical issues surrounding privacy and security in healthcare. This includes outlining individuals’ rights to access their health information, requirements for healthcare providers and organizations to protect that information, and procedures for reporting breaches of confidentiality. Thus, the emphasis on governing PHI usage directly aligns with HIPAA's overarching intent to protect patient privacy and establish a foundation for trust in the healthcare system.

In contrast, while insurance coverage, patient education, and cost reduction are all relevant issues within the healthcare system, they do not encapsulate HIPAA's primary function. Instead, these aspects are separate initiatives that can intersect with HIPAA regulations, but they are not the primary focus of the law itself.