Which federal law requires healthcare providers to protect patient privacy?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the federal law that mandates healthcare providers to protect patient privacy. Specifically, HIPAA establishes standards for the protection of sensitive patient information, ensuring confidentiality and limiting the access and disclosure of personal health data. It not only governs how healthcare providers handle patient information but also gives patients rights over their own health information, including the right to access their medical records and request corrections.

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) addresses various aspects of health insurance coverage and promotes access to care, its primary focus is not on privacy standards, making it less relevant in this context. Other options like the Patient Protection Act and the Medicare Improvement Act pertain to specific aspects of patient care and insurance but do not primarily address the critical issue of patient privacy that HIPAA specifically defines and protects. Thus, HIPAA stands out as the correct answer because of its comprehensive scope in safeguarding patient privacy rights.