As part of the "What Is" series, the purpose is to provide a preliminary overview of HIPAA and the HITECH Act in relation to correlating international laws in some strategic countries, as well as providing practical guidance for evaluating business associates and executing business associate agreements. Three countries in particular will be highlighted: the U.S., the U.K. and India. This gives a perspective on the U.S. laws in relation to an established market and an emerging market, whose laws and their enforcement vary widely.