What does HIPAA stand for?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This legislation was enacted in 1996 and is primarily designed to protect the confidentiality and security of healthcare data while enabling the portability of health insurance coverage. Its key goals are to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system by standardizing the electronic exchange of administrative and financial data while providing safeguards for protected health information (PHI).

Understanding HIPAA is crucial for anyone working in healthcare or handling sensitive health information, as it establishes guidelines for maintaining patient privacy, consent for sharing medical information, and rights regarding access to one's own health records. This acts as an essential framework for protecting patients' rights and ensuring accountability within the healthcare system.