Final answer:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 stipulates the patient's right to confidential handling of their health information, safeguarding against unauthorized disclosure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 deals with the patient's right to confidential handling of their health information. HIPAA sets the standards for protecting patient information by requiring that entities such as insurance companies and healthcare providers maintain strict confidentiality of patient records.
This includes any identifying health information that could compromise a patient's privacy, such as medical diagnoses or treatment details.