This guide only discusses how to get and amend your medical records from health care providers who have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The guide mentions some related topics without discussing them in detail. Here are some resources where you can find information about these related topics.
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Records
Records related to alcohol and drug treatment may be subject to other privacy rules. You can get more information about these records at:
http://hipaa.samhsa.gov/Part2ComparisonCleared.htm
Kansas Medical Record Access Laws
Some health care providers do not have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. These providers must still follow Kansas laws that give you the right to see and get a copy of your medical record. You can read the Kansas statutes that give you the right of access to your medical record on the website of Kansas State Legislature at http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/index.do Under "Statutes" look for statute number 65-4970. You can use the "next" button to continue to read additional parts of the statute.
Medical Records in General
You can read general information about your medical record rights under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the flow of medical information, and how to create a personal medical record at http://www.myphr.com/ a Website operated by the American Health Information Management Association. Please note that this site does not discuss medical record rights that may be available under your state's laws.
Medical Terms
You can find out the meaning of many medical terms and medical shorthand from the Medical Library Association’s Website at:
http://www.mlanet.org/resources/consumr_index.html. Your library might also have books or brochures that explain medical terms.
Mental Health Treatment Records
You can read sections 59-2945 through 59-2986, the provisions of Kansas statutes related to the care and treatment of those with mental illness, on the website of Kansas State Legislature at http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/index.do Under "Statutes" look for statute number 59-2945. You can use the "next" button to continue to read additional parts of the statute.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule treats most mental health treatment records like other medical records. However, psychotherapy notes (as defined by the HIPAA Privacy Rule) are treated differently. You can read about how these notes are treated in the Summary of the Privacy Rule written by the Office for Civil Rights, HHS at:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
