Which law regulates the confidentiality of patient health information in a pharmacy?

The law that regulates the confidentiality of patient health information in a pharmacy is HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA establishes national standards for the protection of certain health information, ensuring that individuals’ health information is kept private and secure.

Under HIPAA, healthcare providers, including pharmacies, must implement safeguards to secure patient health information and ensure that it is only accessed or disclosed in accordance with the law. This includes requirements for confidentiality, the rights of patients to access their own health information, and protocols for sharing information when necessary for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

Other laws mentioned, such as the FDCA (Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act), regulate the safety and efficacy of drugs but do not specifically address patient health information confidentiality. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) focuses on workplace safety and health, while the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) deals with the regulation of controlled substances. Therefore, none of these laws have the same direct impact on patient health information confidentiality as HIPAA.