What regulation was enacted by the Federal Trade Commission on August 1, 2009, to combat medical identity theft?

The Red Flags Rule was enacted by the Federal Trade Commission on August 1, 2009, as a part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. This regulation specifically aimed to address issues of identity theft, including medical identity theft, which involves someone using another person's personal information to receive medical services or goods fraudulently.

The Red Flags Rule requires that certain entities, including healthcare providers, implement proactive measures to detect and prevent identity theft. These measures involve developing an identity theft prevention program that includes policies and procedures to identify "red flags" or warning signs of potential identity theft. By addressing these risks directly, the regulation plays a crucial role in safeguarding patient information and ensuring the integrity of healthcare services.

In contrast, other regulations mentioned, such as the HIPAA Privacy Rule, are primarily focused on protecting patient health information rather than specifically combating identity theft. The False Claims Act deals with fraud against government programs and does not specifically target identity theft in the medical field. Similarly, the Patient Safety Rule is concerned with improving healthcare quality and safety, rather than addressing identity theft issues. Thus, the Red Flags Rule is the most relevant regulation regarding the prevention of medical identity theft.