Final answer:
The HIPAA Act was first passed in 1996 to protect patient information with reforms such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (2008) enhancing its consumer complaint access and enforcement provisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early iterations of the HIPAA Act began with its passage into law in 1996. It was created to set standards for the protection of patient information, requiring entities such as insurance companies and healthcare providers to maintain patient record confidentiality.
Over time, modifications have been made to facilitate easier access to consumer complaints and enforcement. One significant reform was the introduction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), sometimes referred to as Obamacare, which was signed into law by President Obama in 2010.
This act included several provisions that worked to make healthcare more accessible and affordable and addressed the enforcement and compliance aspects of HIPAA. Another substantial addition to the privacy protections afforded under HIPAA was the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) passed in 2008, which prohibits discrimination based on genetic information in both health insurance and employment.