Which of the following best describes the goal of HIPAA privacy protections?

The goal of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy protections is primarily to enhance patients' rights to their health information. This legislation establishes standards that ensure individuals have increased control over their personal health data, including the right to access their information, request corrections, and be informed about how their data is used and disclosed.

By prioritizing patient rights, HIPAA seeks to build trust between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring that sensitive health information is handled confidentially and securely. This approach is foundational to protecting individual privacy in the healthcare setting, empowering patients to make informed decisions regarding their health and the handling of their personal information.

While improving healthcare efficiency, standardizing health information formats, and reducing costs are also important elements within the healthcare system, they do not represent the core objective of HIPAA’s privacy protections, which centers on safeguarding patient rights and enhancing how health information is managed and shared.