Under HIPAA, patients have clear rights when it comes to their health information. Healthcare staff need to understand and respect these rights.

1. Right to Access Records

Patients can request to see or get a copy of their medical records, usually within 30 days.

2. Right to Request Corrections

If a patient believes something is incorrect, they can request a correction.

3. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

Patients can ask for a list of certain disclosures of their PHI that were not related to treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

4. Right to Request Restrictions

Patients may ask you not to share information with certain people or for certain purposes (e.g., don’t share visit info with a spouse).

5. Right to Confidential Communication

Patients can request to be contacted in specific ways (e.g., only by mail, not by phone).

6. Right to Receive a Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)

At their first visit, patients must be given a written notice explaining how their information may be used and shared.

Your Role: Respect these rights and always ask a supervisor if you’re unsure about what to disclose or how.