Which act gives state Attorney Generals the authority to enforce HIPAA civil penalties?

The HITECH Act, or the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, is the legislation that gives state Attorneys General the authority to enforce HIPAA civil penalties. This act was designed to promote the adoption of health information technology and includes specific provisions that expand the enforcement of HIPAA regulations.

One of its significant features is that it allows state Attorneys General to initiate lawsuits on behalf of residents in their states for violations of HIPAA, providing an additional layer of enforcement beyond the federal level. This means that if there is a breach of health information privacy, state Attorneys General can take action to ensure compliance and protect the interests of their citizens.

In contrast, the HIPAA Act primarily establishes the framework for patient data privacy and security but does not specifically grant enforcement power to state Attorneys General. The Affordable Care Act focuses more on healthcare coverage and reforms rather than privacy enforcement, and the Health Information Act is not a recognized act related to HIPAA enforcement. Thus, the HITECH Act is the correct choice for addressing the enforcement of HIPAA civil penalties by state Attorneys General.