What rights do individuals have under the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, individuals have the right to access their health information. This is a fundamental aspect of patient autonomy and health privacy. By enabling individuals to obtain and review their health records, HIPAA ensures that patients can make informed decisions about their care, understand their treatment options, and monitor the accuracy of their health information.

This right to access includes the ability to review and obtain copies of health records held by covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. It also empowers patients to recognize their medical history, understand their diagnoses, and play an active role in their healthcare decisions.

The other options provided do not accurately reflect the rights granted by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. While healthcare providers have legal obligations to provide care and patients may have the right to pursue legal action for malpractice in certain contexts, those rights are not specified under HIPAA. Additionally, HIPAA does not mandate free healthcare or the immediate provision of treatment, focusing instead on the protection of patient information and rights related to that information.