What is the main purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

The primary purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule is to protect individuals' medical records and personal health information. This rule establishes national standards for the privacy of health information, ensuring that sensitive data about patients is handled with confidentiality and security. It gives patients rights over their own health information, allowing them to have control over who can access and use their data. By imposing restrictions on how healthcare entities can share and disclose personal health information, the HIPAA Privacy Rule aims to safeguard patients against unauthorized access and breaches of their private information, which is crucial in maintaining trust in the healthcare system.

In contrast, licensing of healthcare workers, regulation of health insurance premiums, and standardization of medical billing practices are not the primary objectives of this specific regulation, although they may relate to broader healthcare practices. These areas are governed by different laws and regulations that do not directly pertain to the core purpose of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which specifically focuses on the privacy of health information.