Which of the following can be considered a covered entity?

A healthcare provider is considered a covered entity under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Covered entities are organizations or individuals who electronically transmit health information and are therefore subject to HIPAA regulations regarding the protection and privacy of that information. Healthcare providers, such as doctors and hospitals, fall under this category because they engage in transaction processes involving protected health information (PHI) for billing, treatment, and healthcare operations.

In this context, the other choices do not qualify as covered entities:

• A pharmacy student, while they may handle PHI in a training context, is not a covered entity on their own.

• A laboratory technician could work for a covered entity, but as an individual, they are not classified separately as a covered entity unless they independently transmit health information.

• A family member of a patient is not a covered entity, as they do not engage in transactions involving PHI in the context defined by HIPAA.

Thus, the role of the healthcare provider as a vital part of the healthcare system makes them a key example of a covered entity under HIPAA.