Health insurance portability and accountability act

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) /ˈhɪpɑː/, is a United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. It was enacted by the 104th United States Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Etymology

The term HIPAA is an acronym derived from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The Act was named so to reflect its two main objectives: to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage, and to enforce standards and requirements for electronic health care transactions and code sets, unique health identifiers, and security.

Related Terms

• Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act): An act enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.
• Protected Health Information (PHI): Any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to a specific individual.
• Electronic Health Records (EHR): Digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.
• Health Care Provider: A provider of services, a provider of medical or health services, and any other person or organization who furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course of business.

See Also

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• Health care in the United States
• Health care reform in the United States

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