What is HIPAA?

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. It primarily defines rules for the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI) by covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses) and their business associates. HIPAA aims to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI) while also reducing healthcare fraud and abuse. It sets standards for electronic healthcare transactions and requires the implementation of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect PHI.