The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects personal health information and gives patients a variety of righta.   Under HIPAA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) establishes boundaries on the use and release of health records. It also outlines safeguards to protect patients’ information and establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations. 4.1.2 Introduction (Discussing the global, national, state and local implications of the law. Discuss what the law stands for and whats it about)