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It gives patients more control over their health information.

It set boundaries on the use and release of health records.

It establishes appropriate safeguards that health care providers and others must achieve to protect the privacy of health information.

It holds violators accountable, with civil and criminal penalties that can be imposed if they violate patients’ privacy rights

It strikes a balance when public responsibility requires disclosure of some forms of data – for example, to protect public health.

It enables patients to find out how their information may be used and what disclosures of their information have been made.

It generally limits release of information to the minimum reasonably needed for the purpose of the disclosure.

It gives patients rights to examine and obtain a copy of their own health records and request corrections.