What does HIPAA protect?

• A. Reimbursement coverage for medications
• B. Hospital funding
• C. Health care provider licensure
• D. The privacy and security of a patient's health information

Answer: (D)

HIPAA protects the privacy and security of a patient's health information. It sets rules for how that information can be used and shared, especially for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, and gives patients rights to access and control their records. It requires safeguards—administrative, physical, and technical—to protect data in any form, whether stored or transmitted, and it mandates breach notification when data are exposed. The focus is on keeping health information confidential and secure, not on reimbursements, hospital funding, or licensure.