Which entity is exempt from being a covered entity under HIPAA?

The correct answer identifies employers with fewer than 50 employees as exempt from being a covered entity under HIPAA. Under HIPAA regulations, a "covered entity" includes health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers who transmit any health information in electronic form. However, employers generally fall outside the definition of a covered entity unless they are providing health plans or defined services that engage directly with protected health information.

Although small employers may have some obligations concerning health information, they are not classified as covered entities under HIPAA just due to their size. This means they are not subject to the same privacy and security regulations that larger employers or healthcare organizations must follow. The mention of having fewer than 50 employees underlines this exemption, as small employers typically do not provide comprehensive health insurance or engage in electronic health information transactions directly. Therefore, they don't handle protected health information in a way that makes them subject to HIPAA regulations.