What is the primary purpose of HIPAA regarding patient records?

The primary purpose of HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is to provide access and control over health information to patients. This law establishes national standards for the protection of individual medical records and other personal health information. It is designed to ensure that patients have the right to know and control how their health information is used and disclosed.

Under HIPAA, protected health information (PHI) is safeguarded to maintain patient privacy and confidentiality while allowing for the appropriate exchange of information needed for healthcare provision. Patients have rights such as accessing their medical records, requesting corrections, and knowing who has access to their information. This empowerment fosters trust between healthcare providers and patients, enabling better communication and care delivery.

The other options, while they touch on aspects related to healthcare, do not accurately represent HIPAA's core objective of ensuring patient privacy and control over personal health information.