HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, a federal law that established national requirements and related program authorities affecting health insurance portability and administrative simplification, including standards that support the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the HIPAA Security Rule, and the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule.
Meaning of the Acronym
HIPAA is the commonly used acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The acronym is used in compliance programs, policies, and regulatory materials to refer to the statute and the regulations adopted under it.
How the Term Is Used in Compliance
In healthcare compliance, HIPAA is used as a shorthand for the regulatory obligations that govern permitted uses and disclosures of protected health information, required safeguards for electronic protected health information, and breach assessment and notification duties. The term also applies to administrative transaction and code set standards and related requirements that support standardized electronic healthcare transactions.
