What does HIPAA ensure for all patients?

The correct answer emphasizes the core principle of HIPAA, which is to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients' health information. Under HIPAA, patients have the right to control their health information, ensuring that personal health data is not disclosed without their consent. This law establishes standards for the protection of patient information held by healthcare providers, insurers, and other entities, mandating that patients' records are kept confidential and only shared under specific circumstances.

This foundational aspect of HIPAA is crucial in fostering trust between patients and healthcare providers, encouraging patients to seek medical care without the fear of unauthorized access to their sensitive information. The other options do not accurately reflect HIPAA’s provisions; while patients do have rights regarding their health information, they do not have an unrestricted right to access any information freely or to change their records at will. Additionally, the requirement to disclose health information to all medical staff contradicts the privacy protections put in place by HIPAA.