Which of the following is considered a business associate?

A contract coder is considered a business associate because they perform services on behalf of a covered entity that involves the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI). According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a business associate is defined as a person or organization that performs functions or activities on behalf of, or provides certain services to, a covered entity that involves the management or handling of PHI. Contract coders, who translate medical records into standardized codes for billing and insurance purposes, directly engage with e-PHI in their work, thereby placing them in the category of business associates.

In contrast, environmental services are not typically involved in the handling of PHI, rather, they provide cleanup and maintenance services that do not require access to sensitive health information. A security officer may oversee physical security measures but does not engage in activities that involve handling or processing PHI, as per HIPAA regulations. An employee with access to e-PHI is considered part of the workforce of the covered entity and is generally not categorized as a business associate unless they are a separate entity contracting to perform specific functions involving PHI.