Urology Coding Alert

Question: It seems that more patients are trying to keep up with their health histories and want access to past records. Many of our patients see other specialists in addition to our urologist. Is there an easy way we can help them access their information without asking each specialist individually?

Oregon Subscriber

Answer: It's good to see that patients want access to their protected health information (PHI); these patients often are more invested in their care and are more willing to follow their doctors' orders. However, despite the best intentions, it has often been challenging for patients to request and gain access to that information.

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) created a new form for providers to "streamline the process when patients request their PHI under HIPAA and comply with the timeframe and fees set out by the Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) guidance of 2016," says AHIMA's "Advocacy and Policy Efforts" section on its website.

The AHIMA form is free, and it's easy to read, download, and use. It offers detailed reasoning with HHS and OCR links that explain why you must follow certain HIPAA protocols (i.e. 30-day timeframe for delivery of PHI to patient) when patients request their medical records. The form can be "customized by providers and organizations to capture the data you need as well as organizational contact information," the AHIMA guidance notes.

Resource:  For a link to the AHIMA information and patient request form, visit http://www.ahima.org/about/advocacy/efforts.