Tip: Getting your medical records
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known more widely as HIPAA, patients and their advocates were given federal protections of their personal health information. Credit: Newsday File / Viorel Florescu
Do you know what's in your medical records? Do you know who can access it?
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known more widely as HIPAA, patients and their advocates were given federal protections of their personal health information. But the law is complex and confusing, and the protection doesn't always extend to several "uncovered entities," such as life insurers, law enforcement and in some cases employers. And there are hurdles for patients and their advocates as they try to access medical records to which they are entitled.
A free seminar should help you get a better grasp of the law. "HIPAA: Everything You Want to Know About Patient Privacy but Are Afraid to Ask." The program is being held Wednesday, from 1 to 3 p.m., at South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Freeport. The workshop is presented by Greg Radinsky, chief corporate compliance officer for North Shore-LIJ Health System.
For information, call 516-579-4711.
