Which law primarily governs the confidentiality and privacy of health information in the United States?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is primarily responsible for governing the confidentiality and privacy of health information in the United States. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA established national standards to protect sensitive patient health information, ensuring that individuals' medical records and other personal health information are properly secured and kept private.

A key aspect of HIPAA is the Privacy Rule, which sets limits on the use and disclosure of individuals' health information without patient consent. It also grants patients significant rights regarding their health information, including the right to access their own medical records and request corrections. HIPAA's Security Rule further compliments this by implementing safeguards to protect electronic health information.

In contrast, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) specifically pertains to the privacy of student education records, while the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) acts to promote the adoption of health information technology but does not serve as the primary law for overall health information confidentiality. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) focuses on expanding health insurance coverage and access, rather than the specific privacy of health information.

Thus, HIPAA stands out as the cornerstone law ensuring the protection of health information and the confidentiality and privacy rights of patients.