HIPAA and Protectors When I started at Miami Jacobs to become an MA, I kept hearing the word HIPAA. I knew a little about HIPAA, but I didn't understand why it was so important. HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that began in 1996. This law essentially sets limits on your medical records, such as who can view them, and protects them from those who are not authorized to consult them. of your medical record and the security of your medical record. The confidentiality of your records is intended to ensure that only a person authorized to view them has this access based on their policies. The security of your medical records involves ensuring that your identity will not be stolen and that your information will not be disclosed to third parties or anyone who does not have access to it. HIPAA protects all patient information and includes everything written, verbal and electronically. However, there are exceptions. Protected health information contains individually identifiable health information that is maintained in any manner. This includes your name, address and address....