What U.S. law is designed to protect patients' medical records and health information privacy?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a comprehensive piece of legislation that was enacted in 1996 with the primary purpose of protecting patients' medical records and personal health information. One of the key components of HIPAA is its Privacy Rule, which establishes national standards for the protection of certain health information. This rule mandates that healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities that handle health information must implement safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and security of patient data.

Additionally, HIPAA not only emphasizes the privacy of health information but also provides patients with rights regarding their own health data, including the right to access their records and request corrections. This strong framework for safeguarding personal health information makes HIPAA a crucial law for ensuring patient privacy in healthcare settings.

The other options listed lack the comprehensive legal protection that HIPAA provides, either because they don't exist or don’t pertain specifically to the same level of privacy and security for health information as HIPAA does.