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

For information about mental health resources in New Hampshire, visit the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Behavioral Health at http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/BBH/default.htm.

You can read the New Hampshire statutes regarding your rights in the Mental Health Services System on the web site of the New Hampshire General Court at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/nhtoc.htm. Look under Title X (Public Health), Chapter 135 (New Hampshire Mental Health Services System), Sections 135:55-59.

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/

New Hampshire Medical Record Access Laws

Some health care providers do not have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. These providers must still follow New Hampshire laws that give you the right to see and get a copy of your medical record.

To read the New Hampshire statutes regarding your rights to access your medical records, visit the web site of the New Hampshire General Court at

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/nhtoc.htm. For the general rule, look under Title XXX, Occupations and Professions, Chapter 332-I Medical Records. For rules that apply specifically to hospitals and other health care facilities, look under Title XI (Hospitals and Sanitaria), Chapter 151 (Residential Care and Health Facility Licensing), Section 151-21 (Patients’ Bill of Rights).

To read the rules of the New Hampshire Board of Registration in Medicine visit the web site of the New Hampshire General Court at

http://gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/med100-500.html. Look under Med 501.02 (Standards of Conduct).