HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a critical piece of US legislation that sets forth stringent privacy standards to safeguard the confidentiality of patients' medical records and other health-related information shared with healthcare providers, including health plans, doctors, and hospitals. Developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, HIPAA introduces pivotal standards that not only provide patients with unfettered access to their medical records but also empower them with greater control over how their personal health data is used and disclosed. These regulations establish a uniform and nationwide foundation of privacy safeguards that protect consumers throughout the country. It's worth emphasizing that state laws that offer additional layers of consumer protection coexist with HIPAA. This landmark legislation came into effect on April 14, 2003.
