What U.S. law was enacted in 1996 to regulate healthcare practices?

The law enacted in 1996 to regulate healthcare practices is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA. This legislation was designed to provide privacy protections for patients’ medical records and personal health information, establishing national standards for the secure handling of this data.

HIPAA mandates that health care providers, insurers, and their business associates ensure the confidentiality and security of health information. It also grants patients rights over their health information, such as the right to access their records and request corrections. This demonstrates the act's focus on both portability of health insurance coverage and accountability in the handling of sensitive health information, making it a pivotal component of healthcare regulation in the United States.

In contrast, the other options relate to different areas of law. FERPA, for instance, relates to the privacy of student education records. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) addresses different aspects of health care reform much later, while the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in various domains, including employment and public services. Each of these serves its unique purpose unrelated to the specific focus of HIPAA on healthcare data protection.