To expand the reach of the regulations beyond covered entities HHS developed the concept of what?

To expand the reach of the regulations beyond covered entities, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed the concept of "business associates." This concept allows for the regulation of third parties that handle protected health information (PHI) on behalf of covered entities, ensuring that these associates also adhere to privacy and security standards. By doing so, HHS aims to create a comprehensive framework that safeguards PHI throughout the healthcare ecosystem.