Who has the authority to enforce HIPAA regulations?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the primary federal agency tasked with enforcing HIPAA regulations. This enforcement authority is rooted in the administrative and regulatory structures set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act itself. HHS has the responsibility to oversee compliance, investigate complaints, and impose penalties for violations.

Additionally, through the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), HHS specifically handles the enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule. The agency monitors how covered entities—such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses—handle and protect patients' sensitive health information.

By having centralized enforcement under HHS, the federal government ensures consistent application of HIPAA rules across all states, thereby providing a uniform level of privacy and security for health information throughout the country. The other choices, while relevant in different contexts, do not hold the authority to enforce HIPAA regulations directly.