What does HIPAA stand for?

The correct term for HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This legislation, enacted in 1996, is crucial for protecting patient information and ensuring that individuals can maintain their health insurance coverage when they change or lose their jobs. It established standards for the privacy and security of health information, setting forth regulations that healthcare providers and organizations must follow to safeguard this data.

Understanding the components of HIPAA helps clarify its purpose. The "Health Insurance Portability" aspect ensures that individuals can retain their health insurance benefits, while "Accountability" refers to the requirement for healthcare entities to be accountable for protecting patient information. This dual focus is central to the act's goal of balancing accessible healthcare with the patient's right to privacy.