Which law governs the confidentiality of records in Maryland for mental health treatment?

The correct response highlights the significance of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in governing confidentiality regarding records associated with mental health treatment in Maryland. HIPAA establishes national standards for the protection of health information, which encompasses mental health records. It outlines the rights of individuals to privacy regarding their personal health information and mandates how this information must be handled by healthcare providers.

HIPAA applies to a wide range of entities, including mental health professionals and facilities that deal with protected health information (PHI). It requires these entities to implement safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health data, thus playing a crucial role in protecting clients’ sensitive information in the mental health setting.

The other laws mentioned have different focuses. For example, while FERPA pertains to the privacy of student educational records, it does not govern health records specifically. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act addresses the coverage of mental health and substance use disorder services but does not deal directly with record confidentiality. The ADA is intended to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities and does not specifically cover confidentiality in health records. Each of these laws has its importance, but only HIPAA specifically outlines rules regarding the confidentiality of mental health treatment records.