For beneficaries it means being able to make informed choices when seeking care and reimbursement for care based on how personal health information may be used.
It enables patients to find out how their information may be used, and about certain disclosures of their information that have been made.
It generally limits release of information to the minimum reasonably needed for the purpose of the disclosure.
It generally gives patients the right to examine and obtain a copy of their own health records and request corrections.
It empowers individuals to control certain uses and disclosures of their health information.
Security and privacy are linked as the protection of the privacy of information depends on the existence of security measures to protect that information. Whereas the privacy rule sets standards for how protected health information (PHI) should be controlled by setting forth what uses and disclosures are authorized, the security rule defines the safeguards to protect that PHI. It is important to recognize that the security rule is more limited than that of the privacy rule as the security rule will only apply to PHI in electronic form.
Yes, but only with your permission. You must give a written authorization to your MTF in order for your spouse to have access to your health records. Contact your MTF Privacy Officer to inquire about their policies and procedures as this must be handled at the MTF level.
"Use" refers to the sharing of information within the MTF that maintains the PHI. A "disclosure" refers to when we share information with an organization other than the MTF maintaining the PHI. For example, if an MTF's quality assurance department reviews health information to assure a standard of care, this is considered a "use". However, if an MTF provides health information to a public health agency during an audit, this is considered a "disclosure".
You will need to fill out an fill out an "Authorization for Release of Information" form or have your Attorney in Fact complete the form and send it along with a copy of the Power of Attorney to the HMHS Privacy Office.
