HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protects the privacy and security of health information and sets national standards for electronic health care transactions. It aims to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system through standardized exchange of administrative and financial data. HIPAA is important because it establishes patients' rights to their health information and protects them from improper disclosure of private health records. It also aims to reduce healthcare fraud and abuse through various administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for violations.