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

Medical Records in General

You can read general information on your medical record rights, 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, an association of professionals who manage medical records and information.

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

To find information about mental health resources in Minnesota, you can visit the website of the Minnesota Department of Human Resources, Mental Health Division at:

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/disabilities/documents/pub/dhs_id_000085.hcsps .

You can find more information and resources at the Mental Health Association of Minnesota’s website at http://www.mentalhealthmn.org/ or on the website of the Minnesota Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities at http://www.ombudmhmr.state.mn.us/ .

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/

Minnesota Medical Record Access Laws

Some health care providers do not have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. These providers must still follow Minnesota laws that give you the right to see and get a copy of your medical record. The Minnesota Statutes, Section 144.335 (Department of Health, Health Records and Reports; Access to Health Records) gives patients access rights to their health records. You can read this statute at:

http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/statutes.asp