Medical advice is one thing you can’t really get anywhere else. It is often hard to find the best medical advice in the best of circumstances, and even more so when you don’t have any medical advice to begin with. Medical advice is the art, science and practice of taking care of a patient, diagnosing their ailment or injury, and handling the treatment, prevention, palliation or recovery of their ailment. Medicine encompasses a wide range of medical care practices developed to keep and restore health through the early prevention and cure of illness.
HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 give individuals the right to privacy in personal health information, including medical information. This act was created in order to protect the confidentiality of patient medical records while still maintaining necessary access to medical history for physicians and other licensed medical personnel. Privacy policies for health insurance portability are often very specific regarding what can be shared as well as how that information may be used. In order to determine what your privacy is at stake for your personal health information, you will want to consult with your HIPAA agent to review your contract and make sure that your health information is protected. If not, you may wish to consider reviewing your contract and making a few simple changes that will ensure your medical information is kept confidential.
If you have an existing medical information policy with a private insurance company, the rules for accessing and using your personal health information may already be in place. For example, most health insurance portability and privacy policies outline what may be viewed and who may have access to it. If you have questions about your current contract, or you just wish to know what information you have access to, your insurance provider may be able to help you. As you search for new health care coverage, be aware of your rights in light of your current health care agreement.
HIPAA regulations outline what healthcare providers are allowed to look at when determining whether you are able to make informed decisions regarding your health and treatments. As part of the HIPAA regulations, a minimum level of trust is required for individuals to access their own medical records and for health insurance companies to provide such information. In order to establish this minimum level of trust, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted.
With the passage of time, more patient information is provided to third parties. An individual who has signed up for health insurance may be required to give permission for anyone to view his or her medical records. If you are working with a company that provides this service, ensure that they are able to show you that the third party that will be looking at the medical records is HIPAA compliant. Some companies will show you their HIPAA compliant seal, which will indicate that they are able to adhere to certain guidelines regarding patient privacy. Other companies will not show you any indication of a seal, so it is important to ask all of these questions in the beginning.
It is also important to remember that medical records do not have to be recorded in order for you to review them. You may want to review medical records from a couple of years ago, or you may need them immediately for some reason. As long as your provider is legally able to review the medical records, you will be able to get your hands on them. If you wish, you can also speak to your doctor directly to request a copy of your medical records.
