Skip to Content

Overview of HIPAA Privacy Regulation

Currently, there is no comprehensive federal law that protects the privacy of people’s medical records.  The 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) included legislative/regulatory deadlines in order to fill this significant gap in federal rules.  HIPAA provides that if Congress failed to pass a comprehensive health privacy law by August 21, 1999, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to issue health privacy regulations.