According to the Consumer Health Information Bill of Rights, you have the right to expect the information used to make decisions about your healthcare is accurate and complete. The delivery of quality healthcare depends upon accurate and complete health information. Inaccurate or incomplete health information can prevent you from clearly understanding your overall health and can prevent you from receiving the care you need.
Recently Answered
-
1 AnswerA
According to the Consumer Health Information Bill of Rights, you have the right to expect that organizations will hold staff responsible for any improper access, use or release of your health information. You have the right to expect that a breach of your health information will be investigated as required by law. You can further expect to be notified of harmful breaches and assisted accordingly. -
1 AnswerA
According to the Consumer Health Information Bill of Rights, as a health consumer, you have the following rights:
- The right to view and/or obtain a copy of your health information
- The right to accurate and complete health information
- The right to request changes to your health information
- The right to know who receives your health information and how it is used
- The right to request limitations on the uses and releases of your health information
- The right to expect your health information is private and secure
- The right to be informed about privacy and security breaches of your health information
- The right to file a complaint or report a violation regarding your health information
-
1 AnswerA
According to the Consumer Health Information Bill of Rights, you have the right to file a complaint about the way your health information is handled including, but not limited to, privacy and security concerns. You have a right to expect a timely response and resolution. A complaint or violation can be reported to the organization and/or other state or federal agencies.
-
1 AnswerA
For information about the health information laws in your state, visit the website of The Center for Democracy and Technology.
Most health records are subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Health records originated by the federal government, such as the Veterans Administration or Indian Health Services, are also subject to the Privacy Act of 1974.
Health records originated by federally subsidized substance abuse programs are subject to the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records rule.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you should contact the privacy officer of the provider or hospital where you believe the violation occurred to try to resolve your concern. If you are unable to resolve your concern locally, you can file a formal complaint regarding the organization’s privacy practices directly to the organization, health plan, or to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR is charged with investigating complaints and enforcing the privacy regulation.
See more at: http://myphr.com/resources/faqs.aspx -
1 AnswerA
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answeredCoverage for assistive devices varies depending on your insurance coverage. Your therapist or physician will first need to verify that there is a medical need for the item. Mobility devices (walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and some scooters), hospital beds, and bedside commodes are often covered with a physician's prescription but may require a co-payment. If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not cover the equipment you need, there are organizations that may provide the item at no cost or provide financial assistance. -
1 AnswerA
Betty Long, RN, MHA , Nursing, answeredPatients who are insured by a health insurance carrier are typically rendered treatment by hospitals and physicians, etc. that contract with the insurance company. They may even be "in-network" providers on your insurance plan and thus you as a patient are incented to use them.
There are times; however, that an insurance company or a hospital or physician decides to end their contract (relationship) and that can have a significant impact on patients who may be receiving treatment from those facilities or physicians. Typically those folks being impacted will receive a letter stating when the contract will be terminated.
You should know that you as a patient can request from your insurance company what's called a continuation of care. This means that you are requesting that because of current treatment you would like to have the insurance company continue to pay the physician or hospital under the existing contract.
This happened recently to a patient we were working with who was in the midst of chemotherapy from her oncologist. Effective October 1, the oncologist was no longer going to be 'in network' for the insurance company and this would have had negative financial implications for her and her family (with higher copays and deductibles).
We called her insurance company and had the forms sent to her, she completed them and sent them back and waited. Fortunately, the insurance company did approve her continuation of care for six months. This 'extra' time as an in-network provider will allow her to finish her treatment without incurring too many extra costs.
Contracts between providers and insurance companies aren't often terminated, but if they are, and it poses a hardship on the patient, consider pursuing a continuation of care approval.
-
1 AnswerA
For the most part, insurance does cover genetic counseling. For the consultation, if there is a personal or family history of cancer, a consultation is often covered at an 80% or greater level. It typically falls under the same umbrella as a specialist physician visit. Genetic testing is a separate entity from counseling. Many providers have specific criteria as to who will be offered coverage (based on personal and family history). A genetic counselor alongside the laboratory can assist the patient in learning more about their level of coverage prior to the initiation of testing. -
1 AnswerA
ONC Consumer eHealth & Blue Button answeredSome websites offer a place to store your health records online. These are often called personal health records (PHRs). Some personal health records are offered by healthcare providers and health plans and are covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules. Other personal health records (PHRs) are offered by stand-alone companies. If these PHR companies are not covered by HIPAA, they must follow the Federal Trade Commission's Health Breach Notification Rule and notify you if there is a breach of your information. -
1 AnswerA
According to the Consumer Health Information Bill of Rights, you have a right to request a limit on the medical information released to others involved in your care or the payment of your care. Your provider has the right to deny the request, but must provide you with a reason if it cannot be met. However, a request to keep information from your healthcare insurer must be granted if you pay for the service in full at time of delivery.