HIPAA Definition

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of individuals' health information. It sets rules for how health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses must handle protected health information (PHI). Specifically, HIPAA requires that these organizations have safeguards in place to protect the privacy of PHI and limits their use and disclosure of PHI. It also requires that they provide individuals with access to their PHI and to an accounting of certain disclosures of their PHI. Additionally, HIPAA provides individuals with the right to file a complaint if they believe that their privacy rights have been violated.