The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provided ways to combat medical fraud committed against private and public health plans. For instance, it led to the creation of the national Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC), which coordinates federal, state, and local law enforcement investigations into abuse and fraud.
Additionally, HIPAA requires providers to alert patients if their health information is stolen, exposed, or disclosed without permission. This ensures patients are aware of breaches so they can take action to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud.