In the context of accounting, business associate agreements (BAAs) primarily accomplish which of the following?

• A. Establish the method for calculating depreciation on business equipment.
• B. Define the procedures for preparing consolidated financial statements.
• C. Ensure that third-party service providers comply with privacy and security regulations when handling sensitive financial information.
• D. Authorize the transfer of ownership of business assets between associates.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the question: Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) are typically used in scenarios where sensitive information, such as financial or personal data, is shared with third-party service providers.
2. Eliminate irrelevant options: The calculation of depreciation on business equipment and the preparation of consolidated financial statements are unrelated to the purpose of BAAs. These are accounting tasks, not agreements about data handling.
3. Focus on the purpose of BAAs: BAAs are designed to ensure compliance with privacy and security regulations, particularly when sensitive information is involved. This is especially relevant in industries like healthcare and finance.
4. Analyze the remaining options: The option about authorizing the transfer of ownership of business assets is unrelated to the purpose of BAAs, as they do not deal with asset ownership but rather with data protection and compliance.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is the one that aligns with the purpose of BAAs: ensuring that third-party service providers comply with privacy and security regulations when handling sensitive financial information.