The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to which entities?

• A. Patients
• B. All healthcare workers
• C. Covered entities or their business associates
• D. Health insurance companies only

Answer: (C)

The HIPAA Privacy Rule sets rules for who must protect and limit the use of protected health information (PHI). It applies to those entities that actually handle PHI in the course of standard health care transactions. These are covered entities—health plans, healthcare providers that electronically transmit PHI in standard formats (like sending claims or eligibility checks), and healthcare clearinghouses that process PHI. If a covered entity works with vendors or contractors who handle PHI, those outside parties are called business associates and must also comply with HIPAA privacy requirements. So the rule targets covered entities and their business associates. It doesn’t apply to patients themselves, and it isn’t limited to health insurance companies alone, since providers and other entities can also fall under coverage when PHI is involved.