Final answer:
Adhering to official guidelines is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a. required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA is a federal law that sets the standards for the protection of patient information. It requires healthcare providers and insurance companies to maintain strict confidentiality of patient records. Adhering to official guidelines is mandated by HIPAA to ensure patient privacy and data security.