Which of the following is required for a covered entity to adhere to HIPAA?

To adhere to HIPAA, a covered entity must implement a privacy policy. This policy is crucial as it outlines how the organization will protect the privacy of individuals' health information. HIPAA mandates that covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, establish and enforce policies and procedures that restrict access to protected health information (PHI), ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

A privacy policy is essential for compliance because it informs patients about their rights concerning their health information and how their data will be used and shared. It also establishes the operational framework within which the covered entity will manage PHI, detailing the measures taken to safeguard sensitive information and ensuring that employees are trained in these protocols.

By contrast, adopting specific technology, ensuring claims are paper-based, or solely employing clinical staff are not requirements under HIPAA. The focus is primarily on protecting health information through comprehensive policies, not on the medium of information or the staffing of the organization.