ABSTRACT
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is federal legislation that seeks to improve several aspects of the healthcare system in the United States. HIPAA addresses many healthcare related issues, such as improving access to healthcare, improving the availability of health insurance, and simplifying the administration and delivery of healthcare services. This chapter addresses one “rule” within Title II of HIPAA. Title II is the Administrative Simplification section of HIPAA that establishes requirements for the healthcare industry intended to improve efficiency, patient privacy, and information security through the development of industry standards.
