Certified Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAA) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-In-One Guide to Exam Success!

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, is designed specifically to protect patient health information. This legislation establishes national standards for the protection of health information, placing strict rules on how healthcare providers and organizations manage and disclose patients’ personal medical records.

HIPAA's primary focus is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of health information, making it illegal for unauthorized parties to access or share such information without the patient's consent. This act is crucial in fostering trust between patients and healthcare providers, as individuals can feel more secure knowing their sensitive information is safeguarded.

While other options relate to health-related regulations, they do not primarily focus on the safeguarding of patient health information in the same way. For instance, HITECH supports HIPAA by promoting the adoption of health information technology but is not solely focused on patient information protection. OSHA deals with workplace safety rather than patient health records, and COBRA pertains to health insurance coverage continuation rather than the protection of health information. Thus, HIPAA stands out as the key act dedicated to this vital responsibility.