Final answer:
If you do not do anything electronically, but your insurance claims or credit card processing does, then the HIPAA PRIVACY RULE may not apply to you directly as an individual. The responsibility to protect patient information lies with the businesses that use health information.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to the handling of patient information, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the standards for privacy protection. If you do not do anything electronically, but your insurance claims or credit card processing does, then the HIPAA PRIVACY RULE may not apply to you directly as an individual. The responsibility to protect patient information lies with the businesses that use health information, such as insurance companies and healthcare providers.
So, in this case, option b) Patient information is automatically protected would not be accurate. Patient information is not automatically protected, but it is the responsibility of the businesses involved in insurance claims or credit card processing to ensure the protection of patient information according to the HIPAA guidelines.