What does the Privacy Rule primarily address?

The Privacy Rule, established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), primarily addresses the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI). This rule sets the standards for safeguarding individual health information and ensures that patients have control over how their health data is used and shared. It outlines the rights of individuals regarding their health information and stipulates the responsibilities of healthcare providers and entities in managing that information to protect patient privacy.

Understanding this focus on PHI is essential because it helps entities comply with legal requirements while fostering patient trust. The other options, such as patient billing procedures, facility emergency protocols, and patient information systems, while important aspects of healthcare management, do not directly relate to the primary aims of the Privacy Rule. These elements can be affected by the handling of PHI, but they are not the core focus of the Privacy Rule itself.