HIPAA
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Overview
Who Must Comply with HIPAA?
HIPAA applies to covered entities and business associates handling PHI, requiring safeguards and formal BAAs.
Who Must Comply with HIPAA?
Understanding who must comply with HIPAA is critical for defining compliance scope and responsibilities.
Two primary categories apply:
Covered Entities
These include:
Healthcare providers (doctors, hospitals, clinics)
Health plans (insurers, HMOs)
Healthcare clearinghouses
Business Associates
Any organization that handles PHI on behalf of a covered entity, including:
Cloud service providers
IT vendors
Billing and transcription services
Legal, accounting, and consulting firms
Business associates must enter into Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with covered entities, defining their responsibilities under HIPAA.
In many cases, organizations align HIPAA compliance with parallel frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001, ensuring a consistent approach to privacy and security across all partnerships.
