Which federal law protects the confidentiality of electronically stored health information?

The law that protects the confidentiality of electronically stored health information is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA. HIPAA establishes national standards for the protection of individuals' medical records and other personal health information. It requires that healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI) in all forms, including electronic.

Under HIPAA, organizations that handle health information must implement safeguards to protect this data, ensuring it is not disclosed improperly. The law also grants patients the right to access their health information and request corrections to their medical records, reinforcing their control over personal health data.

While HITECH is associated with advancing the adoption of health information technology and includes provisions for stricter penalties for HIPAA violations, it is HIPAA itself that lays the foundational framework for patient privacy and security. FERPA protects the privacy of student education records, and OSHA deals with workplace safety, neither of which pertains directly to the confidentiality of health information.