New Rights That Individuals Are Granted by the HIPAA Privacy Rules
In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act as part of an effort to streamline the health insurance system and keep patients' health information secure. The Privacy Rule is one of the components of the Act.
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Information Access
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Under the law, individuals are entitled to receive a copy of their health records upon request from their health insurance companies or care providers. They are also entitled to have corrections added to their health information if necessary.
Sharing
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The Privacy Law requires health insurance companies and care providers to provide individuals with information on how their health information may be used or shared with other entities, and allows the individual the right to deny permission for that sharing to occur. If permission is granted, the law also grants individuals the right to a report on when and why their information was shared.
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Recourse
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The law grants individuals the right to file complaints against their insurance company, healthcare provider, or the United States Government if they believe they are being denied their health information or that it is being shared without their consent.
Protected Information
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An individual's medical records are protected under the privacy rules, along with billing records, insurance records and the substance of conversations with medical professionals.
Bodies Subject to the Law
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Health insurance entities and health groups, the majority of medical care providers and healthcare information clearinghouses are all subject to the Privacy Rule and must uphold the individual's rights.
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