What is the primary focus of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act?

The primary focus of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is to enhance patient privacy and data security. HIPAA was enacted to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. It establishes national standards for the protection of health information and mandates that healthcare organizations implement safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of patient data. The regulations aim to foster patient trust in the healthcare system by ensuring that their personal health information is handled securely and only accessed by authorized individuals.

In contrast, while improving health service access, reducing healthcare costs, and mandating universal health coverage are all important aspects of healthcare policy, they are not the core objectives of HIPAA. The law primarily addresses the way health information is managed and shared, reinforcing the importance of privacy and security in the management of health records.