What does the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulate?

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) specifically focus on regulating the quality of laboratory testing. This legislation was enacted to ensure that laboratory testing performed on human specimens is accurate, reliable, and timely. CLIA sets standards for laboratory practices, including the qualifications of laboratory personnel, the quality of laboratory equipment, and the procedures used in testing.

The purpose of CLIA is to increase the reliability of laboratory results which are crucial for patient care, diagnosis, and treatment. By establishing a federal regulatory framework, CLIA helps maintain a consistent standard across laboratories, thereby enhancing patient safety and ensuring better health outcomes.

In the context of the other options, patient health records are governed by laws such as HIPAA, which focuses on the privacy and security of personal health information. Medical billing procedures fall under regulations that typically involve insurance regulations and coding standards rather than laboratory testing. The administering of medication is closely monitored by pharmacy regulations, clinical protocols, and other healthcare laws, but it does not fall under the purview of CLIA.