What does HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) have to do with employment questions?
All that is, is when you go to the doctor, hospital or whatever, an extra form you sign giving the provider permission to talk to the insurance company about what's wrong with you so the health care provider can get paid.
If you want health insurance through your employer, you answer the health questions. That information goes to the insurance company. Your employer, unless it is an insurance company, is not involved or affected by HIPAA.
And HIPAA is not new. It's been in effect since 1996.