HIPAA is the Health Insurance Potability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) that was passed by Congress to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets.
In addition, HIPAA was passed to ensure:
►To combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery.
►To reduce costs and the administrative burdens of health care by improving efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system by standardizing the interchange of electronic data for specified administrative and financial transactions.
►To ensure protecting the privacy of Americans' personal health records by protecting the security and confidentiality of health care information.
How does HIPAA affect me?
The HIPAA law ensures that an individual's health information is properly protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and promote high quality health care and to protect the public's health and well being. The Rules strikes a balance that permits important uses of your information, while protecting your privacy. Given the diversity of the health care environment, the Rule is designed to be flexible and comprehensive to cover the variety of uses and disclosures that need to be addressed.