What is a business associate under HIPAA?

A business associate under HIPAA is defined as a person or entity that performs certain functions or activities on behalf of, or provides certain services to, a covered entity that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI). This includes a wide range of services such as data analysis, billing, legal services, and more, as long as these services require access to PHI.

Understanding this definition is crucial, as it distinguishes business associates from other roles within healthcare, particularly those who do not have a similar level of access to sensitive information. The distinction helps ensure that there are proper compliance measures in place to protect patient data when it is handled by external partners.