Final answer:
Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, covered entities include health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers that deal with protected health information, such as nonprofit health organizations, private hospitals, and governmental agencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
A "covered entity" under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule includes organizations that specifically deal with protected health information (PHI). These can be health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers who electronically transmit any health information in connection with transactions for which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has adopted standards. Examples of such entities include b. A nonprofit health organization, c. A private hospital, and d. A governmental agency like Health and Social Services.