What does HIPAA aim to secure in relation to healthcare?

HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was enacted to ensure the protection of sensitive patient information. Its main goals include safeguarding the confidentiality and privacy of healthcare information, which is vital for maintaining trust between patients and healthcare providers. By setting national standards for the protection of health information, HIPAA helps to prevent unauthorized access and breaches of private data related to patients' medical history, treatment details, and personal identification.

This focus on confidentiality significantly impacts how healthcare organizations manage and share personal health information, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access. Furthermore, HIPAA also empowers patients by giving them rights over their health information, including the ability to access their records and request corrections, which reinforces the importance of privacy in healthcare.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary objectives of HIPAA. Increasing premiums for consumers, minimizing healthcare services, or standardizing profit margins are not aspects that HIPAA addresses, as its core mission is safeguarding the privacy and security of patients’ health information.