CCEP Certification Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Study Resource

In the context of compliance, the acronym "HIPAA" stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This federal law was enacted in 1996 to provide privacy standards to protect patients' medical records and other health information provided to health plans, doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.

The significance of HIPAA lies in its dual focus: first, it ensures that individuals who change jobs can maintain their health insurance coverage, hence the term "portability." Second, it establishes strict guidelines around the handling of confidential health information, introducing measures to safeguard patient data against misuse and breaches, thus addressing "accountability."

The other options, while they incorporate elements related to healthcare and privacy, do not reflect the true meaning of HIPAA. For example, "Health Insurance Privacy and Accountability Act" and "Health Information Protection Accountability Act" do not accurately capture the crucial aspect of "portability," which is fundamental to the legislation. Similarly, "Health Information Portability and Accessibility Act" substitutes "Accountability" with "Accessibility," which alters the original intent of the law. Understanding the correct terminology is essential for professionals in compliance and ethics, as it affects how policies are structured and implemented within healthcare organizations.