Which of the following is NOT considered a covered entity under HIPAA?

The identification of healthcare patients as not being a covered entity under HIPAA is accurate. Under HIPAA regulations, covered entities are defined as organizations or individuals that must comply with the federal privacy and security rules concerning the handling of protected health information (PHI).

Covered entities specifically include health plans, which are organizations that provide or pay for the cost of healthcare, healthcare clearinghouses that process health information, and healthcare providers who transmit any health information electronically in connection with a HIPAA transaction. These entities have specific obligations under HIPAA to safeguard patient information and ensure compliance with regulations.

Healthcare patients, however, do not fall under this definition as they are not responsible for handling or transmitting PHI in a regulated capacity. Instead, patients are the individuals whose health information is protected by HIPAA rules. The focus of HIPAA is to protect patient data from unauthorized access and ensure that covered entities uphold the privacy and security of that information. Therefore, patients themselves are not considered covered entities.