Introduction to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) We human beings have been gathering data since the dawn of mankind, whether it was in the form of pictures drawn on stones or in the form some text typed and saved on your computer.
There is no doubt in that technology has multifaceted benefits but, at the same time, it has forced mankind to feel insecure. Every industry depends upon the data of the customers and the health industry is no more an exception here. The data of each patient is shared to facilitate health itself and for more rigorous and authentic research. Hence, protecting patient data is very important. It is so important that in 1996, the federal government introduced the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also known as “HIPAA”. This act brings balance to privacy, meaning that, as an individual or as a patient, you have the right to withhold information but at the same time, it gives the business owner the right to disclose patient information that is needed for patient care and other important purposes to various authorized businesses. However, healthcare businesses such as Medicare centers, insurance companies and more, must assure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronically-protected health information. HIPAA consists of two major standard Privacy and Security rules.

Privacy Rules: This rule assures that individual’s health information is properly protected yet still provides flow of health information in order to promote high quality health care and to protect the public's health and wellbeing if needed. Security Rules: This rule is more focused on the technology side and it standardizes how health information is secured and protected. Any health care provider must implement administrative, physical, and technical safe guards to ensure confidentially of the