Which legislative act primarily focuses on the privacy and security of health information?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the legislative act that primarily focuses on the privacy and security of health information. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA was designed to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system while protecting sensitive patient information. It establishes national standards for the protection of health information and requires healthcare providers, health plans, and clearinghouses to enforce strict measures to safeguard patient data.

HIPAA's Privacy Rule sets forth the standards for how healthcare organizations must handle and protect patients' medical records and other personal health information, ensuring that individuals' data is not disclosed without their consent. The Security Rule further strengthens these protections by outlining specific security measures that must be implemented to safeguard electronic health information.

Understanding the pivotal role of HIPAA is important in the context of information governance in healthcare, as it not only lays down the fundamentals for patient data privacy but also imposes penalties for non-compliance, thereby underscoring the significance of maintaining the confidentiality and security of health information.