What type of information does HIPAA primarily protect?

HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, primarily protects health information. This legislation is designed to ensure that individuals’ medical records and personal health information are kept private and secure. It mandates strict standards for the handling and sharing of such information by healthcare providers, insurers, and their business associates.

The focus of HIPAA is specifically on the confidentiality, integrity, and security of health data, which includes anything related to an individual's past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of healthcare to an individual, and the payment for the provision of healthcare. This protection is critical in maintaining patient trust and safeguarding sensitive health information from unauthorized access and breaches.

In contrast, while employment records, financial information, and educational records may be protected under other regulations or specific privacy acts, they do not fall under the jurisdiction of HIPAA, which is exclusively concerned with health information privacy.