Which entities are required to comply with HIPAA regulations?

The correct answer pertains to covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. These entities are directly involved in the provision of healthcare or the payment for healthcare services, making them subject to HIPAA regulations.

Healthcare providers that transmit any health information in electronic form in connection with a HIPAA transaction are considered covered entities. This means that even small practices must comply with HIPAA if they handle protected health information (PHI) electronically. Health plans, including health insurance companies and other organizations that provide health benefits, also must adhere to HIPAA to protect patient information. Healthcare clearinghouses, which process data on behalf of other entities, are subject to the same regulations due to their role in handling health information.

The other options reference various entities, but none encompass the full scope of those required to comply with HIPAA. Government agencies and public health organizations may have their own obligations, but they are not specifically termed as covered entities under HIPAA. The administrative offices of health insurance companies would fall under health plans as covered entities, but stating them alone does not encompass the broader definition needed to understand compliance with HIPAA.