Health Information Management

TOPIC: Patient rights and the privacy rule

HIM Connection, December 28, 2003

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM Connection!

TOPIC: Patient rights and the privacy rule

HIPAA not only protects individually identifiable health information from wrongful uses and disclosures, but also provides for a consistent set of rights with regards to individuals' information. Individuals have the right to:

-notice of privacy practices for protected health information

-request restriction of uses and disclosures

-receive confidential communications

-access to information

-amend information

-accounting of disclosures

-obtain a paper copy of an electronic notice of privacy practices

While codification of these rights may be new under HIPAA, how we should treat information about patients or how other industries treat information about consumers is not. For some time, consumers have had access to personal credit records and have had the right to amend corrections.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Act of 1999 is similar to HIPAA's administrative simplification for the financial services industry. GLB requires all financial service companies to provide their customers with notices of privacy practices. Not so long ago, educational institutions were required to codify students' rights to their information--giving them the right to access their educational records and providing certain protections.

This week's excerpt is from "HIPAA made simple: Your guide to fast-tracking compliance, second edition," by Margret Amatayakul, MBA, RHIA, FHIMSS. Click here for more information or to order.

Kate Alvarez
Editorial Assistant
kalvarez@hcpro.com



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM Connection!

  • Briefings on APCs

    Worried about the complexities of the new rules under OPPS and APCs? Briefings on APCs helps you understand the new rules...

  • Medical Records Briefing

    Guiding Health Information Management professionals through the continuously changing field of medical records and toward a...

  • Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies

    Submitting improper Medicare documentaion can lead to denial of fees, payback, fines, and increased diligence from payers...

  • Briefings on HIPAA

    How can you minimize the impact of HIPAA? Subscribe to Briefings on HIPAA, your health information management resource for...

  • APCs Weekly Monitor

    This HTML-based e-mail newsletter provides weekly tips and advice on the new ambulatory payment classifications regulations...

Most Popular

Related Articles