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Let’s ask Jo! She’ll know!
Q: I know HIPAA is supposed to protect my medical privacy, but how does that work?
A: To be honest, better in theory than in practice. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 2009 (HIPAA) was intended to keep patient health information from being accessed, used or read by unauthorized parties. Of course, it lost much of its merit as soon as bad actors figured out how to hack into electronic health data. Over 382 million medical records have been exposed in violation of HIPAA since its inception (52 million in 2022). And health care facilities are now swapping with social media: your medical info for advertising and market analytics. So our private data is being monetized as well as breached. Grrr.
Is there any good news?
Absolutely. HIPAA also gives you the right to access and retrieve copies of your medical records (for a reasonable charge). More recently, HHS mandated that tests and clinic notes be immediately available to the patient. That allows the DIY downloading or copying of records through patient portals, which comes in handy in an emergency, when you see a provider for the first time or if you're seeking a second opinion. Do always verify what type of media is acceptable on the receiving end; many facilities only take printed or faxed records, to prevent cyber viruses. BTW, there is no time limit on providing or transferring records on your behalf, so plan ahead and be super patient. Pun intended.
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