Medical Assistant Law and Ethics Practice Test 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the correct answer because it specifically includes provisions that establish patients' rights regarding their medical records. Under HIPAA, individuals are granted the right to access their health information, receive copies of their medical records, and request amendments to those records when necessary. This legislation emphasizes the privacy and security of health information while empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare by ensuring they can obtain and review their medical data.

The Privacy Act primarily governs the federal government's handling of personal information and does not specifically address access to medical records. The Affordable Care Act primarily focuses on expanding access to healthcare and improving the quality of care, rather than directly addressing patients' rights to their medical records. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, while related to health information technology, extends HIPAA regulations but does not independently establish rights to access medical records. Therefore, HIPAA is the central regulation that provides the framework for patients to access their medical records.