Which document is crucial for maintaining patient confidentiality?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the correct answer because this federal law specifically sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient information. HIPAA establishes national rules regarding the privacy and security of health information, ensuring that healthcare providers, insurers, and their business associates handle patient data responsibly and securely.

Under HIPAA, patients have the right to access their health records, which helps empower them while also reiterating the importance of confidentiality. This act also outlines the protocols for how personal health information can be shared and who it can be disclosed to, reinforcing the necessity of maintaining patient confidentiality.

Other options, while they may relate to patient rights or health information, do not provide the same comprehensive structure and legal guidelines that HIPAA does in terms of confidentiality protections. For example, the Patient Rights Agreement may address the rights of patients but does not outline the legal requirements for safeguarding their health information. Similarly, the Health Information Management Act and Medical Coding Regulations deal with specific aspects of healthcare data management but do not focus specifically on the overarching need for confidentiality in the same way that HIPAA does.