- HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that was passed by Congress in 1996. HIPAA does the following:
- Requires the protection and confidential handling of protected health information. This is what we most often think about when we hear "HIPAA."
- Provides the ability to transfer and continue health insurance coverage for millions of American workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs;
- Reduces health care fraud and abuse; and
- Mandates industry-wide standards for health care information on electronic billing and other processes.