What act protects health information of individuals in a healthcare setting?

The act that specifically protects the health information of individuals in a healthcare setting is known as HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This legislation was enacted in 1996 and aims to safeguard sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. HIPAA sets standards for the protection of health information and defines the rights of individuals regarding their health data.

The essence of HIPAA lies in its focus on privacy, security, and the safeguarding of individuals' medical records and other personal health information. It requires healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses to implement privacy policies to protect patient data.

The other options do not accurately represent legislation related to health information protection. HIPA is not a recognized act, HITRUST is a framework that may incorporate HIPAA compliance but does not itself protect health information, and HEPA refers to a type of air filter rather than health information legislations. This highlights why HIPAA is the correct choice, as it is the recognized law that addresses the protection of health information in healthcare settings.