Underneath the umbrella of Privacy Rule protections is a patient\u2019s right to change incorrect or incomplete data. Increasingly, the medical field has acknowledged that a patient\u2019s access to their personal health data is not only their right but is also vital to improving the quality of doctor-patient relations and treatment.<\/p>\n
The Privacy Rule provides you with the right<\/a> to inspect, review, and receive a copy of your medical and billing records. If you believe that information in your record is incorrect, you can request a change to your record. Changes must be limited to factual statements. Examples of factual statements<\/a> include:<\/p>\n A statement such as \u201cpatient appears lethargic\u201d cannot be changed because it is the observation<\/a> of the doctor rather than fact.<\/p>\n The HIPAA Privacy Rule generally applies to \u201ccovered entities<\/a>\u201d or providers who transmit health information in electronic form i.e. hospitals, doctors, and insurance plans. They may require in advance that you include a reason for your request and that it be in writing. Your provider must act on your request for an amendment no later than 60 days after receipt but may extend by 30 days if a reason for the delay is provided in writing. If your provider does not provide a reason, they must amend the inaccurate or incomplete information. There are a few exceptions<\/a>. The entity may deny the request if the information:<\/p>\n Many health facilities provide forms for amendments, such as this form from\u00a0Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. However, sending your own written request is also acceptable. A sample of a request could be:<\/p>\n June 30, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. John Smith<\/strong> Re: Request to Amend Medical Records;\u00a0\u00a0Patient Name: Jane Jones;\u00a0<\/strong>D\/O\/B: 3\/15\/1985<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Dr. Smith:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pursuant to Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations \u00a7\u00a0164.526<\/a>, I am requesting an amendment to my medical record. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The reason for this amendment request is that the report, written by Dr. Smith, on 12\/6\/18, incorrectly states that I have Type O blood. This is inaccurate. I am requesting that the record be amended to state that I have Type B blood.<\/strong><\/p>\n Please let me know when this correction has been made in my file.<\/strong><\/p>\n Thank you,<\/strong><\/p>\n (signature)<\/p>\n Jane Jones<\/strong> If the provider still does not agree to your request, it is your right to submit a \u201cstatement of disagreement<\/a>\u201d that the they must add to your record. Your provider may<\/em> reasonably limit the length of the statement and also provide a rebuttal statement. Once the amendment or statement of agreement is filed, the provider or plan must make reasonable efforts to inform individuals who have access to the protected information and may rely on it for future reference.<\/p>\n For the complete law, see Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations \u00a7\u00a0164.526<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to be intimidated by healthcare professionals. We see them for roughly 10-15 minutes at a time and often after a period of several months. Even after several months, it can feel like doctors have had little time to review our cases. Medical records are sometimes left incomplete, inconclusive, or even inaccurate. Inaccuracies can … Continue reading Your Right to Amend Medical Records<\/span> \n
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<\/a><\/em>Guest\u00a0blogger Rachel Partington is a lawyer living in Rochester, NY. In her spare time, she writes on health and disability, and also runs a support group \u2013 Chronic Illness in Young Adults (CIYA). She also teaches Vinyasa Flow Yoga. She has autoimmune hearing loss and POTS.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Facebook\"](\"https:\/\/dysautonomiainternational.org\/blog\/wordpress\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/32x32\/facebook.png\" "\\"Follow")
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