The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 primarily addresses what concern?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is primarily focused on ensuring patient confidentiality and enhancing the portability of health insurance. Under HIPAA, strict regulations are established to protect the privacy of individuals' medical records and other personal health information. This means that healthcare providers, such as pharmacy technicians, must maintain confidentiality regarding patient information and are obligated to adhere to privacy laws that safeguard sensitive data.

Additionally, HIPAA facilitates the ability for individuals to maintain their health insurance coverage when they change jobs or face other significant life changes, thereby promoting insurance portability. This law lays the groundwork for protecting patients' rights in both privacy and the management of their health insurance, ensuring that individuals are not penalized for changing employment or facing health issues.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of healthcare, do not align with the primary scope and focus of HIPAA. The act does not address pharmaceutical pricing, drug manufacturing regulations, or directly expand healthcare services without the context of privacy and insurance coverage regulations. Therefore, patient confidentiality and insurance portability is the core concern addressed by HIPAA.