Which entities are included under HIPAA rules?

Under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) rules, a broad range of entities is covered to ensure the protection of health information. The correct answer encompasses all the listed entities because they play various roles in handling health information.

Life insurers are regulated by HIPAA because they often handle protected health information (PHI) when assessing risk for policy underwriting or managing claims. This means they must comply with privacy and security rules to ensure that sensitive health information is protected.

Information systems vendors can also be considered covered entities if they provide services that involve handling, transmitting, or storing PHI. These vendors must adhere to HIPAA regulations to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the health information they manage on behalf of healthcare providers or payers.

Universities, particularly those that have healthcare programs or clinics, may also fall under HIPAA regulations if they collect or process PHI in the course of their operations. For example, student health services must comply with HIPAA to protect the health information of their students.

Thus, the inclusion of all these entities under HIPAA rules reflects the broad intent of the legislation to protect health information across various sectors that may come into contact with such data.