Which legislation amended the PPACA to implement health care reform initiatives, such as increasing tax credits to buy health care insurance, eliminating special deals provided to senators, closing the Medicare "donut hole," and modifying higher education assistance provisions, such as implementing student loan reform?

The legislation that amended the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and implemented various health care reform initiatives is the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA). This act was integral in expanding upon the reforms initially introduced by the PPACA, addressing key areas such as increasing tax credits that individuals could utilize to purchase health insurance, thus making coverage more affordable.

Moreover, HCERA targeted specific provisions to enhance Medicare benefits by addressing the so-called "donut hole," which refers to a gap in prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. This move was aimed at reducing out-of-pocket costs for seniors purchasing medications. Importantly, HCERA also introduced modifications related to higher education, implementing student loan reforms to improve access to education funding and alleviate some financial burdens on students.

This act essentially took steps to refine and enhance existing provisions of the PPACA, making it a pivotal piece of legislation in the broader context of health care reform in the United States. Other legislative acts listed, such as BIPA, HIPAA, and HITECH, address different areas of health care regulation and privacy but do not specifically cover the extensive reforms mentioned in relation to health care financing and education as HCERA does.