Final answer:
HIPAA is a law passed in 1996, with significant dates being its passing, the implementation of the Privacy Rule in 2003, and interactions with the PPACA in 2010. It provides standards for protecting patient information by healthcare entities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is crucial legislation in the United States that sets standards for the protection of patient information. The most important dates in the life of HIPAA are:
- 1996: HIPAA was passed into law, establishing rules for maintaining the confidentiality of patient records by health-related businesses.
- 2003: Specific regulations under HIPAA, known as the Privacy Rule, became effective. These rules govern the use and disclosure of individuals' health information.
- 2010: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law by President Obama, which includes provisions that impact HIPAA regulations and enforcement.
HIPAA protects against unauthorized release of individually identifiable health information, a concern that was further highlighted by the ethical, legal, and social issues related to the Human Genome Project (HGP). The Act has undergone various updates and modifications to keep up with the changing healthcare landscape and the advent of new technologies and has been supplemented by other laws such as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) in 2008.