Which of the following is considered a covered entity under HIPAA?

Under HIPAA, a covered entity is defined as a health care provider who transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a HIPAA transaction, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. Healthcare providers are directly involved in the provision of medical services and the handling of protected health information (PHI), which necessitates compliance with HIPAA regulations to safeguard patient privacy and data security.

Choosing healthcare providers as the correct answer recognizes their key role in the healthcare system, where they are responsible for handling sensitive health data and ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability as mandated by HIPAA. While research institutions may conduct activities involving health information, they are not classified as covered entities unless they provide healthcare or transmit health information electronically. Similarly, software vendors and insurance marketplaces may interact with healthcare data but do not fit the definition of a covered entity as they are not directly involved in providing healthcare services.