In what year did HIPAA go into effect?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996. This legislation established national standards for the protection of sensitive patient health information and aimed to improve the portability and accountability of health insurance coverage. Although some components of HIPAA were implemented in subsequent years, the foundational law itself was established in 1996. Therefore, the correct identification of the year of enactment is essential for understanding the timeline and development of healthcare privacy regulations.