Which federal regulation must healthcare organizations comply with for accreditation?

The correct answer is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Compliance with HIPAA is crucial for healthcare organizations as it sets the standards for protecting sensitive patient information. Under this act, healthcare entities are required to implement safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI). This includes establishing privacy and security measures for handling patient data, which is essential for accreditation since accrediting bodies assess whether organizations are meeting these standards for data protection and patient privacy.

While the other regulations listed do have significant implications for healthcare, they do not primarily address the compliance with accreditation requirements in relation to patient information security and privacy. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) focuses on expanding healthcare coverage, while the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) emphasizes payment reform and quality measures. The Social Security Act provides a foundation for various healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, but does not specifically govern the accreditation process in the manner that HIPAA does. Therefore, HIPAA is directly tied to the accreditation standards regarding information handling and patient privacy that healthcare organizations must adhere to.