A business associate agreement must include what requirement?

A business associate agreement (BAA) is a crucial document in the context of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance. The correct requirement is that the business associate may only use protected health information (PHI) for specified purposes. This stipulation ensures that the use of PHI is tightly controlled and limited to the functions that are necessary for the business associate to perform on behalf of a covered entity.

By specifying allowable uses of PHI, the BAA helps safeguard patient information and ensures that the business associate remains in compliance with HIPAA regulations. It also mandates that the business associate adheres to the same privacy and security standards as the covered entity. This is imperative for protecting patient information from unauthorized access and for maintaining trust in the healthcare system.

In contrast, the other options would introduce risks to patient privacy and are not compliant with HIPAA. For instance, allowing a business associate to use PHI for any purpose would create a scenario where sensitive information could be misused. Similarly, stating that a business associate must not have access to PHI would undermine the purpose of the agreement, as business associates need access to provide necessary services. Allowing the business associate to share PHI with any contractor would further complicate