Which rule specifies safeguards for covered entities to ensure confidentiality of electronically protected health information?

The Security Rule specifies safeguards for covered entities to ensure the confidentiality of electronically protected health information (ePHI). This rule is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) framework and outlines specific administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that must be in place to protect ePHI from unauthorized access and breaches.

Covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses that transmit health information electronically, must implement these safeguards to ensure that sensitive patient information remains secure. The Security Rule addresses issues such as access controls, encryption, audit controls, and security training for employees, all of which are critical in maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of ePHI.

In contrast, other options such as the Sunshine Law and Public Records Law focus on transparency and public access to government records and do not address the protections of health information specifically. The HIPAA Privacy Rule deals with the broader principles of privacy relating to protected health information (not specifically ePHI) but does not set the specific security standards that the Security Rule encompasses.