What is the purpose of HIPAA?

The primary purpose of HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is to grant individuals more control over their health information. This legislation establishes national standards for the protection of health information and ensures that patients have the right to access their medical records, request amendments to their information, and obtain an accounting of disclosures. By empowering individuals in this way, HIPAA promotes greater transparency and trust within the healthcare system, facilitating better communication between patients and providers about personal health matters.

This strong focus on patient agency and confidentiality is foundational to HIPAA, which contrasts with the other choices. While HIPAA does indirectly support efforts to promote better health outcomes by protecting data privacy, its explicit goal is on control and access for individuals regarding their health information. The other options, though related to healthcare, do not encapsulate the core intent of HIPAA as effectively as this answer does.