In a healthcare setting, what does HIPAA primarily protect?

HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, primarily protects patient privacy by establishing national standards for the protection of certain health information. This law ensures that individuals' medical records and other personal health information are properly safeguarded against unauthorized access and breaches. Under HIPAA, healthcare providers and organizations must implement a series of protocols and secure practices to maintain the confidentiality of patients’ health information, thus allowing patients to trust that their sensitive data will be kept private.

The other options, while relevant in broader administrative and regulatory contexts, do not directly align with the primary purpose of HIPAA. Employee rights may be addressed through various labor laws, insurance fraud is typically handled under insurance regulations, and workplace safety refers to standards established by regulations such as OSHA. None of these focus specifically on the protection of patient privacy, which is the cornerstone of HIPAA's provisions.