What does HIPAA stand for?

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This federal law, enacted in 1996, primarily aims to protect the privacy and security of individuals' health information while also facilitating the transfer of health insurance coverage for individuals when they change or lose their jobs. The key components of HIPAA involve establishing national standards for safeguarding sensitive patient information and ensuring that individuals have certain rights concerning their health information. The term "portability" refers to the ability of individuals to maintain their health insurance coverage across different employers, while "accountability" concerns the enforcement of regulations regarding the handling of health information.

The other choices either misrepresent the terms used in HIPAA or present incorrect versions of the act's name. Understanding the correct definition is crucial for compliance with privacy standards and for maintaining the integrity of patient health information in healthcare practices.