Did You Know That “HIPPA” Is Actually Spelled “HIPAA?” Here’s What HIPAA Is

John Deutsch

John Deutsch

Posted on March 12, 2019

Know the difference between HIPAA and HIPPA and learn all about the US law that protects patients’ medical information.

Whenever you’re doing an online search about HIPAA compliance, it’s easy to make a typo and confuse “HIPAA” with “HIPPA.” Phonetically speaking, it’s also an easy mistake to make. Given the similarities, you may be asking yourself,  “What exactly is the difference between HIPAA and HIPPA?”

“HIPAA” is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This is a US law that protects individuals’ medical records and other important health information supplied to doctors, health plans, hospitals, and other healthcare entities.

Meanwhile, “HIPPA” is simply a typo, and at the moment, it does not represent any organization or law. When it comes to proper spelling, an easy trick to remember is “If it’s spelled similar to hippo, it’s incorrect.”

The good news is that, whether you spell it as “HIPAA” or “HIPPA,” you will always be directed to information about the US health law.

For more information on HIPAA compliance, feel free to read the following resources below:

4 Myths Surrounding HIPAA Certification for Hosting Providers

6 Things to Consider For HIPAA Compliant Web Design

How to stay HIPAA Compliant When Using Social Media for Healthcare

How HIPAA and Data Security Applies to Medical App Design

Now that we’ve gone over this common typo, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information about HIPAA Compliance.


John Deutsch

John Deutsch

Founder and CCO of MWE, and business owner of 19 years with extensive experience in Healthcare IT. John is a Judge for the 2020 eHealthcare Leadership Awards and has appeared on multiple podcasts, including the Outcomes Rocket Podcast and the Hospital Finance Podcast.

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