What does the HIPAA Privacy Rule establish?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards specifically designed to protect sensitive patient health information. This rule is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which was implemented to enhance the privacy protections for individuals' medical records and other personal health information.

The Privacy Rule outlines how health care providers, health plans, and business associates can use and disclose personal health information while ensuring that patients maintain the right to their own data. It sets standards for safeguarding health records, establishes individuals' rights regarding their personal information, and provides guidelines on the sharing of such information—ensuring that patients feel secure about the confidentiality of their health data.

The other options do not address the primary focus of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. While insurance claims processing, hospital billing practices, and criteria for determining medical necessity are essential aspects of healthcare operations, they are not the central purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which is exclusively concerned with the protection of individual health information.