Under HIPAA, who is primarily responsible for protecting patient health information?

The responsibility for protecting patient health information under HIPAA primarily lies with healthcare providers and business associates. This is because HIPAA establishes specific guidelines and regulations that apply directly to healthcare providers, which includes hospitals, clinics, and private practitioners, as well as their business associates that may handle protected health information (PHI).

These entities are mandated to implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of PHI. This includes maintaining privacy policies, training staff on HIPAA regulations, and ensuring secure electronic health records among other responsibilities.

While patients have a role in protecting their own health information (for instance, by being cautious about sharing their information), and while government regulators enforce HIPAA standards, the foundational responsibility for data protection rests with healthcare providers and their business associates who are directly involved in handling and processing patient information.