Your HIPAA right to access your medical records
Did you know that you have an individual right to your medical records?
Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, individuals have a right to timely access to their medical records—within 30 days (with a one-time 30-day extension), and providers can only charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for this service.
Seems easy, right?
Just this week, a mental health center was penalized $100,000 for failing to comply with this basic, patient-centered requirement.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) imposed a civil monetary penalty on the provider for not providing a patient with their requested medical records in a timely manner. This action underscores the importance of compliance—not just to avoid penalties but to uphold patients’ rights and trust.
For healthcare providers, this is a reminder: Compliance isn’t optional. It’s a cornerstone of ethical and professional practice.
For patients, this is empowerment: You have the right to your records. Speak up if you’re being denied.
Sources
- HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 C.F.R. Part 164, Subpart E
Originally posted on LinkedIn, where the discussion and source links live in the comments.