What law regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI)?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule is the law that specifically regulates the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI). It establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information provided to health plans, doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. This rule aims to ensure that an individual's health information is properly safeguarded while allowing for the flow of health information needed to provide high-quality healthcare.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule also sets limits on who can access PHI, requiring healthcare entities to implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect this information. It grants patients rights over their own health information, including the right to access and request corrections to their records. This regulation is crucial in maintaining patient confidentiality and ensuring compliance with privacy standards in healthcare settings.

The other options, while related to aspects of healthcare and privacy, do not specifically focus on PHI like the HIPAA Privacy Rule does. For instance, the FERPA Rule pertains to the privacy of student education records, the HITECH Act relates to the electronic health records (EHR) and the promotion of health information technology, and the Patient Protection Act deals with healthcare coverage reforms but does not directly address the regulation of PHI.