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

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, is the legislation that establishes standards for protecting the privacy and security of individuals' health information in the healthcare setting. This federal law mandates that healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities that handle personal health information must implement safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and availability of that information.

HIPAA sets forth regulations that govern how personal health information (PHI) can be used and shared, providing individuals with rights over their data, such as the right to access their health records and request corrections. Its purpose is to ensure that sensitive information is protected from data breaches and unauthorized access, thereby fostering trust between patients and healthcare providers.

The other options do not correspond to this specific function: HIPA is not a recognized act; HITRUST is a framework for managing data risk but is not specifically focused on healthcare privacy; and HEPA refers to air filters that do not relate to health information protection. Therefore, HIPAA is the fundamental legislation dedicated to safeguarding health information in the healthcare sector.