What defines a business associate in the context of healthcare?

A business associate in the context of healthcare is defined as an individual or organization that performs services on behalf of a covered entity that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI). This means that if an organization needs access to PHI to perform its services—such as billing, data analysis, legal services, or IT support—it is considered a business associate.

This designation is crucial because it establishes that business associates are subject to certain HIPAA regulations, which aim to ensure that PHI is protected throughout its use outside the immediate healthcare provider environment. In essence, as long as their function involves handling PHI, they fall under the business associate category, which mandates compliance with specific HIPAA standards for safeguarding patient data.

The other options do not fit the definition of a business associate as they do not pertain to services requiring access to PHI for operational purposes. For instance, a healthcare provider offering physical therapy services is considered a covered entity, while a patient receiving care is an individual whose information is protected by HIPAA but does not perform services involving PHI for a covered entity. A government agency regulating patient services may also have a role in overseeing compliance but does not directly provide services requiring access to PHI in the same way a