What is the purpose of the Security Rule?

The purpose of the Security Rule is fundamentally to protect individual personal health information (PHI). This rule, established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), sets national standards for safeguarding sensitive patient data that is stored or transmitted electronically. It mandates that covered entities, such as health care providers and plans, implement various administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure that patients' medical information remains confidential and secure.

This protection is crucial not only for maintaining patient trust but also for complying with regulations that prevent unauthorized access to health information, thus reducing the risk of data breaches and potential identity theft. By focusing on the security of PHI, the rule helps to uphold the integrity and privacy of health information, ensuring that it is shared appropriately and only with authorized individuals.

Other options do not align with the primary objective of the Security Rule. Increasing health care costs is contrary to its purpose, as the rule is designed to enhance security without unnecessarily burdening healthcare operations. Similarly, while the rule addresses access to medical records, it aims to do so in a controlled manner, ensuring that such access does not compromise patient privacy. Limiting the availability of health care services is also not relevant to the Security Rule, which is aimed at protecting information rather than