Back to top. Congress passes the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Concern over the lack of federal medical records privacy standards spurs lawmakers to include a provision requiring that Congress create such confidentiality rules within three years. As directed by the law, the Dept. of Health and Human Services unveils recommendations for standards governing the confidentiality of individually identifiable medical information. Congress misses its self-imposed deadline for developing legislation on the privacy of medical information.
Lawmakers vow to pass a bill by year's end.
Tentative congressional adjournment date. If Congress has failed to enact legislation, HHS must, by law, promulgate final regulations regarding the confidentiality of electronically transferred medical information. Back to top.