Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations?

The correct choice emphasizes that both the covered entity, which typically includes healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, and their business associates are held responsible for ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations. This shared responsibility is crucial because it reinforces the importance of protecting patient information throughout the entire healthcare ecosystem. Covered entities must implement appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI) and must also ensure that any business associates they work with (such as billing services or IT support) comply with the same standards. This collaborative responsibility helps create a comprehensive compliance framework that protects patient data at multiple levels.