Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What does HIPAA stand for?

1. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

2. Health Information Protection and Accountability Act

3. Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

4. Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act

The correct answer is: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This federal law was enacted in 1996 to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. The primary purposes of HIPAA are to enhance the portability of health insurance coverage for individuals when they change or lose their jobs, and to establish safeguards for the privacy and security of health information. This choice is correct because it directly references the key components of the law, emphasizing both the insurance portability aspect and the accountability measures that safeguard patient information. Understanding the full name helps clarify the scope of HIPAA, which includes not just privacy regulations but also provisions that allow for the seamless transition of health insurance in different employment situations. Other options provided mix up the terminology in ways that do not accurately represent the original name or intent of the act.