In what year was the HIPAA Privacy Rule enacted?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule was enacted in 2003 as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) legislation, which was originally passed in 1996. The Privacy Rule set national standards for the protection of individuals' medical records and personal health information, establishing how healthcare organizations must manage and safeguard sensitive patient data. The implementation of the Privacy Rule in 2003 was significant because it marked the beginning of formal regulations aimed at ensuring privacy and security for healthcare information, requiring covered entities to adopt policies that complied with these new standards. This transition played a crucial role in enhancing patient confidentiality and establishing patient rights over their own health information.