In which year was HIPAA enacted by Congress?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by Congress in 1996. This law introduced significant changes aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system, primarily by promoting the protection of patient privacy and ensuring the security of health information. One of its main objectives was to prevent healthcare fraud and abuse, while also streamlining administrative processes in healthcare settings.

The other years mentioned—1998, 2001, and 2003—reflect different events related to health privacy regulations and amendments, such as the introduction of the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule, which came later as part of the HIPAA regulations, but they do not denote the initial enactment of the law itself. Thus, 1996 stands out as the foundational year for HIPAA.