COMMON MYTHS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY RIGHTS

CHICAGO, April 5—Implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule has created much confusion and misinformation amongst the healthcare industry and the public. As the one-year anniversary of HIPAA approaches, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) helps separate fact from fiction on some of the most common myths about your health information privacy rights:

• Myth #1: Your name and location while in the hospital may not be given out without your consent.
  Fact: You must specifically ask not to be listed in a hospital’s directory if you do not want it known that you are a patient there.
• Myth #2: Your healthcare provider cannot leave messages for you on your answering machine or with someone who answers the phone.
  Fact: The Privacy Rule does not prohibit healthcare providers from leaving messages for patients on their answering machines. The Rule also permits healthcare providers to disclose limited information to family members, friends, or other persons regarding your care, even when you are not present. You do have the right to request an alternative communication method if you do not wish to receive messages at home.
• Myth #3: Your healthcare provider must have your approval to disclose your personal health information to another healthcare provider.
  Fact: Your provider can share your health information with another provider if there is a reason to believe you will receive care there.
• Myth #4: You MUST sign the Notice of Privacy Practices
  Fact: Your signature is not required. Your healthcare provider must provide the notice and make a good faith effort to obtain a written acknowledgement from you that you received it.
• Myth #5: Your doctor cannot discuss your care with your family members
  Fact: The Privacy Rule permits healthcare provides to share information that is directly relevant to the involvement of a spouse, family members, friends, or other persons identified by you regarding your care or payment for healthcare. Your provider may also share relevant information with your family or other persons if it can reasonably infer, based on professional judgment, that you do not object.

April 11 – 17 is National Health Information Privacy and Security Week. Sponsored by AHIMA, this week is designed to raise awareness among the public about the importance of personal health information privacy and security. For more information about your personal health information privacy rights, visit www.myphr.com.

AHIMA is the national association of health information management (HIM) professionals. AHIMA's 53,000 members are dedicated to the effective management of personal health information needed to deliver quality healthcare to the public. Founded in 1928 to improve the quality of medical records, AHIMA is committed to advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global environment through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning. For information about the association, go to www.ahima.org.