Which legislation governs confidentiality in outpatient health records?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the legislation that primarily governs confidentiality in outpatient health records. HIPAA was enacted to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information from being disclosed without their consent or knowledge. It establishes national standards for the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI) and provides patients with specific rights regarding their health information.

Under HIPAA, health care providers and organizations are required to implement safeguards to ensure the confidentiality of patient records and to notify patients about their privacy rights. This includes restrictions on who can access or share health information and outlines the processes for patients to gain access to their own records.

In contrast, the Affordable Care Act focuses on healthcare coverage and affordability but does not specifically govern the confidentiality of health records. The Patient Protection Act, while it pertains to healthcare as well, is not specifically aimed at confidentiality in the manner that HIPAA is. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) deals with educational records rather than health records, making it irrelevant in this context. Thus, HIPAA is the foundational law for maintaining the confidentiality of outpatient health records.