What federal legislation specifically addresses the release of protected health information?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the federal legislation specifically designed to address the release of protected health information (PHI). Enacted in 1996, HIPAA established national standards for the protection of sensitive patient health information. The Privacy Rule, which is a key component of HIPAA, sets forth regulations governing the use and disclosure of PHI by covered entities—including healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. It ensures that individuals' health information is kept confidential and provides rights to patients to control their information.

The importance of HIPAA in healthcare cannot be overstated; it provides safeguards that balance the need for healthcare providers to communicate necessary patient information while also protecting patients' privacy rights. This principle establishes a legal framework, mandating that health information cannot be shared without the individual's consent, thus reinforcing trust in healthcare systems.

Other options listed, while pertinent to various aspects of law and ethics, do not specifically focus on the protection of health information. The HITECH Act, for instance, enhances the privacy and security protections under HIPAA, but it is more about promoting the adoption of health information technology. FERPA relates to the privacy of student education records, and the ADA focuses on preventing discrimination against individuals with