What was one of the main purposes for creating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

One of the primary purposes of creating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was to protect the privacy of health information. The legislation was enacted to establish national standards for the protection of individuals' medical records and personal health information, thereby giving patients greater control over their health data.

By enforcing strict guidelines on how health care providers, health plans, and other entities handle sensitive patient information, HIPAA ensures that personal health details are kept confidential and used appropriately. This protection is crucial in maintaining patient trust in the health care system, as individuals must feel secure that their private information will not be disclosed without their consent.

The focus on privacy under HIPAA has implications for how healthcare providers conduct their business and how they interact with patients, thereby shaping the overall landscape of healthcare privacy in the United States.