Texas Jurisprudence Exam Physician Assistant Practice Exam

What does the acronym HIPAA stand for?

1. Health Information Protection and Accountability Act

2. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

3. Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act

4. Health Insurance Privacy and Action Act

The correct answer is: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The acronym HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This federal law, enacted in 1996, primarily aims to protect the privacy and security of individuals' health information while also ensuring that they can maintain their health insurance coverage when they change or lose their jobs. HIPAA introduced important provisions for the safeguarding of medical records and personal health information, establishing standards for electronic health care transactions and requiring that individuals' health information is confidential and secure. The act also created guidelines for the sharing of this information among healthcare providers, insurers, and other entities. These protections are critical in maintaining patient trust and facilitating the safe exchange of health information within the healthcare system. Options like Health Information Protection and Accountability Act or Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act reflect some aspects of HIPAA, particularly regarding information security and privacy, but they do not accurately capture the full intent and wording of the legislation, which emphasizes both portability (ensuring continuity of insurance) and accountability (regarding the privacy and security of health information). The option mentioning Health Insurance Privacy and Action Act diverges significantly from the correct terminology, as it does not incorporate the essential element of portability that HIPAA is known for.