The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law was passed by Congress

- To improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets

- To combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery

- To reduce costs and the administrative burdens of health care

• By improving efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system by standardizing the interchange of electronic data for specified administrative and financial transactions

- To ensure protecting the privacy of American's personal health records

• By protecting the security and confidentiality of health care information