HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is a federal law in the United States enacted in 1996 to protect the privacy and security of individuals’ health information.

Covered entities, including healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, must comply with HIPAA regulations. Additionally, business associates, such as vendors and service providers, that handle protected health information (PHI) on behalf of covered entities, are also required to comply.

PHI includes any individually identifiable health information, such as a person’s medical records, health insurance information, or payment details related to healthcare services.

HIPAA compliance primarily consists of ensuring the privacy, security, and breach notification requirements are met. This includes implementing safeguards for PHI, providing patient rights to access and control their information, and reporting breaches when they occur.

HIPAA protects patient privacy by restricting the use and disclosure of PHI without patient authorization. It also grants patients the right to access their medical records and request corrections.

The HIPAA Security Rule outlines specific safeguards and requirements for protecting electronic PHI (ePHI). It covers issues like access controls, encryption, audit logs, and disaster recovery planning.

HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to report breaches of unsecured PHI to affected individuals, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and, in some cases, the media. The severity of penalties for non-compliance depends on the nature of the breach and the level of negligence.