Who qualifies as a business associate under HIPAA?

Under HIPAA, a business associate is defined as an entity that performs certain functions or activities on behalf of a covered entity, which can include healthcare providers, health plans, or healthcare clearinghouses. This often involves services that may require access to protected health information (PHI), such as billing, data analysis, or processing claims.

The key aspect that qualifies an individual or organization as a business associate is their role in supporting or performing services for a covered entity that involve the handling of PHI. Consequently, a business that provides services to a covered entity— such as IT support, legal services, or marketing services—fits this definition because their work may necessitate them to access or manage PHI, thereby creating a relationship governed by HIPAA regulations to ensure the security and privacy of that information.

The other options do not meet the qualifications: healthcare providers are typically considered covered entities, individuals providing personal services may not necessarily be providing services to a covered entity, and patients receiving medical care are protected parties under HIPAA but do not have roles defined as business associates.