What federal legislation passed in 1986 provided immunity to practitioners regarding some peer review activities?

The correct answer is the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act. This federal legislation was enacted to improve the quality of medical care by encouraging physicians and other healthcare practitioners to engage in peer review activities without the fear of legal repercussions. It grants immunity to those who participate in peer review processes, as long as they are conducted in good faith. The intention behind this act was to enhance healthcare quality while protecting professionals from lawsuits stemming from their involvement in evaluating the competence and performance of their peers.

The other options do not pertain to the peer review protections established by the act. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) focuses on expanding health insurance coverage and improving healthcare services rather than peer review activities. The Utilization Review Act relates to the assessment of the necessity and appropriateness of services rather than providing immunity for peer reviews. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) deals primarily with the privacy and security of patient information and does not address peer review protections. Thus, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act is specifically the legislation that provides immunity for peer review practitioners, facilitating better healthcare outcomes.