Which federal law is primarily concerned with patient privacy and security in healthcare?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, is the federal law that is primarily focused on patient privacy and security in healthcare. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA's primary goals include ensuring the confidentiality and security of individuals' health information and establishing standards for the electronic exchange of healthcare data. The law provides patients with rights over their health information, including the right to access their medical records and request corrections.

HIPAA also mandates safeguards that healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities must implement to protect sensitive patient information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This means that any organization that handles protected health information must have measures in place to maintain the privacy and security of that information.

In contrast, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act do address various aspects of healthcare, such as insurance coverage and access to care, but they do not primarily focus on patient privacy. The Social Security Act primarily deals with social security and welfare programs rather than specifically focusing on healthcare privacy and security. This distinction underscores why HIPAA is the key piece of legislation related to patient privacy and security in the healthcare landscape.