What is a major goal of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996?

The major goal of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is centered around the protection and confidentiality of patient's private health information. HIPAA was established to set national standards for the protection of sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. This includes ensuring that personal health information is used appropriately and limiting access to authorized individuals only, thereby safeguarding patients' rights to control their own health information.

The law’s focus on minimizing the use of private health information aligns with its overall purpose of increasing patient privacy and securing medical records, in addition to fostering patient trust in the healthcare system. By emphasizing the limitation on the use and sharing of personal health information, HIPAA aims to protect individuals from potential misuse of their health information, such as discrimination or breaches of confidentiality.

The other options do not align with HIPAA's goals; exposing personal health information contradicts its core purpose, while standardizing billing practices, though a part of the law, is not the primary focus. Similarly, increasing healthcare costs is contrary to the intent of making healthcare more accessible. Thus, the emphasis on limiting the use of a patient's private health information is what fundamentally defines this act.