What type of legislation is HIPAA?

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is classified as federal legislation. This act was enacted by the United States Congress in 1996 and establishes national standards for the protection of health information. Its primary purpose is to ensure that individuals' medical records and other personal health information are kept safe and secure, while also allowing patients greater access to their health data.

Being federal legislation means that it applies uniformly across all states and jurisdictions in the U.S., providing a consistent framework for privacy and security in healthcare data management. This federal standard is crucial as it governs how healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities handling protected health information must operate, ensuring compliance regardless of local or state laws. This helps to elevate the standards of patient care and confidentiality nationwide.