Okay, so youre going to the doctor, right? health insurance portability accountability . managed service new york managed services new york city And youre probably thinking about all sorts of things – is this rash serious?
Its kinda confusing, I know. Basically, HIPAA (which is some crazy acronym I can never remember, something something Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, I think) is there to make sure your doctors office doesnt just blab your private health stuff to anyone who asks. Like, your nosy neighbor shouldnt be able to call up and find out about your, um, ahem, issues.
What does this actually mean for you, the patient? Well, first off, you have a right to see your medical records! It might take a little bit of time, and they might charge you a small fee for copying them, but you're entitled to know what's in there. Its your information, after all.
Second, you have the right to ask them to fix mistakes. Seriously, if they wrote down youre allergic to penicillin when youre actually allergic to peanuts, SAY SOMETHING!
Third, you have the right to know who theyre sharing your info with. Doctors cant just randomly send your records to Uncle Bob without a good reason (and usually, your permission!). There are some exceptions, of course, like if the law requires them to share it, or if its for public health reasons (like tracking a disease outbreak). But generally, they need your okay.
Now, doctors aint perfect. Mistakes happen! And sometimes, there are breaches of HIPAA.
Dont be afraid to ask questions! Your doctors office should be able to explain their HIPAA policies to you in plain English (or whatever language you prefer). They should also have a notice of privacy practices available for you to read.
It all boils down to this: knowing your rights under HIPAA helps you protect your sensitive medical information. And that's pretty important, don't you think!
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