Final answer:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, which indeed includes the Privacy Rule, is true. The Privacy Rule protects sensitive patient health information and is an integral part of HIPAA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is also known as the Privacy Rule is true. HIPAA establishes standards for the protection of sensitive patient health information and mandates that covered entities, such as insurance companies and healthcare providers, maintain the confidentiality of personal health information (PHI). The Privacy Rule is a key component of HIPAA, outlining the specific protections afforded to PHI and the conditions under which it may be used or disclosed. Consequentially, healthcare providers must balance the need to protect patient privacy with ethical considerations, such as informing sexual partners about potential exposures to sexually transmitted diseases.