What is HIPAA

HIPAA – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1996 that sets national standards for the protection of individuals’ medical records and other personal health information (PHI). HIPAA applies to healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, as well as their business associates, who handle PHI. The law mandates secure handling of PHI to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability while also granting individuals certain rights over their health information, such as the right to access and request corrections to their records.