Which regulation is designed to protect the privacy of clients' health information?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule is designed to protect the privacy of clients' health information by establishing standards for the protection of health information held by covered entities. This includes healthcare providers who conduct certain transactions electronically, as well as health plans and healthcare clearinghouses. The rule ensures that individuals have rights over their health information, including the right to access it, request amendments, and receive an accounting of disclosures. Under HIPAA, there are strict guidelines about how health information can be used and shared, requiring written consent from clients in many situations.

While other regulations, such as the Federal Confidentiality Act, also aim to protect certain health information, particularly related to substance abuse treatment, they do not encompass the broad protections established by HIPAA. The Patient Protection Act and the Health Information Security Act are not specifically focused on privacy protection; they address different aspects of healthcare regulations. Thus, the outcomes of HIPAA are fundamental for ensuring privacy and security within the healthcare system, making it the correct choice in this context.