Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Which of the following can be considered a covered entity under HIPAA?

1. Psychologists only

2. Home help personnel

3. Insurance brokers

4. Lawyers in private practice

The correct answer is: Home help personnel

Home help personnel can be considered a covered entity under HIPAA because they provide healthcare services and directly interact with protected health information (PHI) as part of their roles. Covered entities include health care providers who transmit any health information in electronic form in connection with a HIPAA transaction, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. Home help personnel often assist patients with tasks that involve medical care or health management, making them directly involved in the delivery of healthcare services. Therefore, they are subject to the regulations of HIPAA regarding the protection of health information. Psychologists, while they may also qualify as covered entities, are not the only professionals that fall under this classification. Insurance brokers and lawyers in private practice do not provide healthcare services or deal directly with PHI as their main role, which keeps them outside the definition of covered entities under HIPAA.