Medical Records - Getting them Corrected

[Guest guest]

HIPAA gives us a lot more rights than just privacy rights. It also gives us

the right to CORRECT our medical records. Thus, you can write your doctor

and say those conversations never took place and you failed to mention

blah-de-blah and I want that corrected in my records.

Actually, I have done this. I have sent a letter outlining what I say

occurred and simply asked that my letter be INCLUDED in my records. – That

makes it really simple for them – albeit resulting in sort of a “he said,

she said” set of records. Nonetheless it’s hard for them to argue with that

sort of request.

See HIPAA:

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

under regulations and standards click on “The privacy Rule” and then:

click on “Regulation Text Only

or try clicking: Regulation Text Only – which may or may not get you there

directly

scroll down to Section 164.526 - Amendment of protected health information.

(Fastest was is probably to search [control/F] for “Amendment of protected

health information”)

This site should give you the info you need to demand that your records be

corrected & to file a complaint if they are not corrected. Note: there are

forms and formats given on other links from the home page.

Citing the section of the regulation often helps to get cooperation.

There’s a procedure to follow. One reason I chose a letter to be included

in my records is that makes it a lot easier for them to comply than for them

to try to deal with denying the request -- and I find people tend to follow

the easier path.

Good luck,

Pat

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