Final answer:
Health care facilities follow the guidelines set by HIPAA when providing patient information to other agencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When providing patient information to other agencies, health care facilities follow the guidelines set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA, which was passed into law in 1996, establishes standards for the protection of patient information and requires strict confidentiality of patient records. This means that health care facilities must ensure that patient information is not disclosed to unauthorized parties, including insurance companies. The goal of these guidelines is to protect patient privacy and ensure the security of their health information.