Whose responsibility is it to safeguard protected health information?

The responsibility to safeguard protected health information (PHI) primarily lies with healthcare providers, health plans, and their business associates, as mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. These entities must implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect PHI. Additionally, all employees and staff within these organizations share the responsibility to comply with privacy policies and training to ensure the security of sensitive information.