What does HIPAA stand for?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This legislation was enacted in 1996 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system, particularly by addressing the protection of patients' sensitive health information and ensuring the portability of health insurance coverage for individuals when they change or lose their jobs.

The act includes provisions that safeguard personal health information (PHI), requiring healthcare providers, insurers, and other entities to implement standards for the protection of such information. It also includes regulations that allow individuals to maintain their health insurance coverage when transitioning between employers, thereby enhancing the portability aspect of health insurance.

The other options do not accurately represent the title of the legislation. They either confuse concepts of health information privacy with insurance portability or mischaracterize the overall scope and focus of the statute, which is specifically designed to secure health information while ensuring that coverage remains accessible.