Which laws protect the confidentiality of patient information for Physician Assistants?

The correct answer highlights the primary laws that ensure the privacy and confidentiality of patient information, specifically the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Texas medical records laws. HIPAA is a federal law that sets national standards for the protection of health information, establishing guidelines for how patient information can be used and disclosed. It requires healthcare providers, including Physician Assistants, to safeguard patient information against unauthorized access and use, ensuring that patient confidentiality is maintained.

Additionally, Texas has its own medical records laws that complement HIPAA, imposing stricter requirements on the confidentiality and handling of patient records. Together, these laws create a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure that patient information is kept private and secure.

The other laws mentioned do not primarily focus on patient information confidentiality. The Texas Medical Practice Act governs the licensing and regulation of medical practitioners but does not specifically address patient information confidentiality in the way that HIPAA does. The Texas Ethics Code pertains to the conduct of public officials and does not specifically cover patient confidentiality in a healthcare context. Finally, the Family Medical Leave Act deals with employee rights regarding medical leave, rather than the privacy of patient information.