Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act - HIPAA

HIPAA was a health insurance reform law passed in 1996, aimed (as the name suggests) at two main themes: portability and accountability. That's Congress-speak for helping customers keep their coverage if their life circumstances changed (i.e. losing their jobs) and protecting the security of health information.

Since most people received health insurance through their employer, coverage was often lost if a person lost their job. HIPAA had regulations that prevented that, allowing people to hold onto their insurance if they quit or got fired, or if they simply changed jobs.

The law also included provisions targeting increased privacy for health information and the security of electronic health records. Finally, it provided for some simplification of health administration on the governmental level.