What is one of the key responsibilities of a covered entity under HIPAA?

One of the key responsibilities of a covered entity under HIPAA is to maintain the confidentiality of protected health information (PHI). This responsibility is fundamental to the intent of HIPAA, which is to safeguard sensitive patient data from unauthorized access and breaches. Covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, are mandated to implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect PHI.

Maintaining confidentiality means that covered entities must limit access to PHI to authorized individuals only and must handle patient information in a manner that protects individuals' privacy. This responsibility also involves training employees on privacy practices and ensuring that any disclosures of PHI are conducted in compliance with HIPAA regulations.

The other options do not align with the core objectives of HIPAA. For instance, prohibiting electronic storage of patient data would impede efficiency in healthcare delivery, while providing complete access to all patient data to the public would violate privacy rights. Allowing unlimited changes to medical records would undermine the accuracy and integrity of health information. Each of these alternatives detracts from the principles of confidentiality and security that HIPAA aims to uphold.