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 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, an association of professionals who manage medical records and information. 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
Mississippi statutes related to persons in need of mental health treatment can be found in Mississippi Code, Title 41, Chapter 21, Sections 41-21-61 through 41-21-109. You can read these laws through a link provided on the Website of the Mississippi Secretary of State at http://www.sos.state.ms.us/pubs/mscode/
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/
Mississippi Medical Record Access Laws
Some health care providers do not have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. These providers must still follow Mississippi laws that give you the right to see and get a copy of your medical record. The Mississippi law that gives you the right to your medical records can be found in Mississippi Code, Title 41, Chapter 9, Section 41-9-65. The Mississippi law that sets the fees that health care providers can charge for copying medical records can be found in Mississippi Code, Title 11, Chapter 1, Section 11-1-52. You can read these statutes through a link provided on the Website of the Mississippi Secretary of State at http://www.sos.state.ms.us/pubs/mscode/
The rules for doctors providing patients access to medical records are set in Article XII of the rules and regulations of the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure. You can read these regulations on the Website of the Board at: http://www.msbml.state.ms.us/
