Compliance & Legal
Covered Entity
A healthcare provider, health plan, or clearinghouse directly regulated by HIPAA.
A covered entity is an organization directly regulated by HIPAA: a healthcare provider that transmits health information electronically in a standard transaction, a health plan, or a healthcare clearinghouse. Covered entities must meet HIPAA's Privacy and Security Rules for the PHI they handle.
Whether a provider is a covered entity usually turns on electronic billing, not job title. See who needs HIPAA-compliant hosting. For the common gray areas, see does HIPAA apply to coaches.