The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a U.S. law enacted in 1996 that aims to protect patients' medical records and personal health information. It establishes national standards for the privacy and security of health data, ensuring that individuals' information is kept confidential and is only shared with authorized parties. HIPAA also provides patients with rights over their health information, including the right to access their records and request corrections. The law applies to healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities that handle health information, collectively known as covered entities.