What is the primary purpose of the HITECH Act's breach notification requirement?

The primary purpose of the HITECH Act's breach notification requirement is to keep individuals informed about their health information. This requirement mandates that entities, such as healthcare providers and organizations, notify individuals in the event of a data breach that compromises their personal health information. The underlying objective is to promote transparency and trust between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that individuals are aware of when their sensitive data may have been exposed to unauthorized access.

This notification allows individuals to take proactive steps to protect themselves, such as monitoring their records for suspicious activity or identity theft. By informing patients, the HITECH Act emphasizes the importance of individual autonomy and control over personal health information, thereby fostering a more secure healthcare environment.

Other options, while relevant to aspects of data protection and patient rights, do not capture the essence of the breach notification requirement specifically as directed by the HITECH Act. The breach notification is not primarily about allowing individuals to sue for damages, although they might have those rights in other contexts. Furthermore, while protecting healthcare data integrity and preventing breaches are critical goals, the requirement primarily focuses on informing individuals about breaches that have already occurred, rather than solely on prevention or data integrity.