Which part of HIPAA is focused on the protection of electronic health information?

The focus on the protection of electronic health information is specifically addressed by the HIPAA Security Rule. This part of HIPAA establishes national standards for safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI) by ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of this data. The Security Rule mandates that healthcare organizations implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect ePHI from unauthorized access, breaches, and potential loss.

This includes requirements for implementing security measures such as access controls, encryption, and audit controls to secure ePHI as it is created, received, maintained, or transmitted. By emphasizing the protection of electronic data, the Security Rule plays a critical role in maintaining patient privacy and fostering trust in the healthcare system.