Final answer:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that sets the standards for the protection of patient information in the United States and overrides most state laws that define and regulate patient privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that sets the standards for the protection of patient information in the United States. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that sets the standards for the protection of patient information in the United States and overrides most state laws that define and regulate patient privacy.
HIPAA regulations override most state laws that define and regulate patient privacy, providing a consistent framework for protecting patient privacy across the country.
For example, if a state law has weaker privacy protections than HIPAA, HIPAA rules will take precedence in protecting the patient's privacy. However, if a state law has stronger privacy protections than HIPAA, the state law will remain in effect.