Who enforces the privacy standards under HIPAA?

The enforcement of privacy standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is primarily the responsibility of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The OCR ensures compliance with HIPAA’s privacy and security rules, which were designed to protect patients' medical records and other personal health information.

The OCR investigates complaints filed by individuals regarding HIPAA violations and also conducts compliance reviews. Additionally, they offer guidance and training to covered entities and business associates to help them understand their obligations under HIPAA. This enforcement role is critical to maintaining the confidentiality and trust patients place in healthcare providers regarding their personal health information.

The other entities mentioned, while they have important functions, do not specifically enforce HIPAA's privacy standards. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), for example, oversees certain aspects of healthcare policy and regulation but is not primarily responsible for enforcing HIPAA. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) focuses on health research, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) deals mainly with consumer protection and competition issues rather than healthcare privacy.