Question

The nurse identifies the act that provides for the privacy of patient health information as the:

A.Drug Regulation Reform Act.
B.Drug Relations Act.
C.Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act.
D.Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Answer 1

D.Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

The act that provides for the privacy of patient health information is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires confidentiality of patient records. It was established in 1996 and is key to protecting patient privacy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The act that provides for the privacy of patient health information is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Passed into law in 1996, HIPAA sets standards for the protection of patient information, mandating that entities like insurance companies and healthcare providers maintain strict confidentiality of patient records.

Other acts, such as the Drug Regulation Reform Act, Drug Relations Act, and the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act, focus on aspects like drug regulation and modernization of the FDA but do not directly address patient privacy related to health records.

HIPAA is crucial because it ensures that personal health information remains secure and that the privacy of individuals is protected. Any disclosure of a patient's health information, including contacting sexual partners after a diagnosis, must be carefully managed to avoid violating HIPAA regulations.