What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (August 21), Public Law 104-191, which amends the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986. Also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act. The goals of the law include, but is not limited to :

• Improved efficiency in healthcare delivery by standardizing electronic data interchange.
• Protection of confidentiality and security of health data through setting and enforcing standards.
• Standardization of electronic patient health, administrative and financial data.
• Unique health identifiers for individuals, employers, health plans and health care providers.
• Security standards protecting the confidentiality and integrity of "individually identifiable health information," past, present or future.

The bottom line:

Sweeping changes in most healthcare transaction and administrative information systems.