Correct. This guide uses the word “correct” to mean adding information to your medical record to make it more accurate or complete. 

Health Care Provider. This guide uses the term “health care provider” to refer to doctors, dentists, chiropractors (and other health care practitioners) and to hospitals and other health care facilities licensed in New York.

HIPAA Privacy Rule. A set of legal rules written by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These rules set national standards that give patients the right to see, copy, and amend their own health information. They also set standards protecting the privacy of health information. Health care providers (such as doctors and hospitals) and health plans (such as health insurers and Medicare) have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Others, such as employers, generally do not have to follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

HIPAA. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This federal law directed the United States Department of Health and Human Services to write rules protecting the privacy of health information. The federal law leaves in place state laws that have privacy protections that are equal to or greater than the federal law.

Inspection Fee. A fee imposed for the administrative costs associated with letting you look at (inspect) your medical record. This fee is prohibited under HIPAA.

Notice of Privacy Practices. A notice required under the HIPAA Privacy Rule that describes a person’s right to get and correct (amend) their medical record. It also explains when a provider can use and disclose (share) health information. The notice must also give the name (or title) and telephone number of a contact person who should be able to answer questions about getting and amending medical records. A provider must give a privacy notice to a patient on their first visit and upon the patient’s request.

Personal representative. This guide uses the term “personal representative” to refer to someone who has the legal right to make health care decisions on behalf of another person.

Right of Access. The right to see and get a copy of your medical record.

Right to Amend. The right to correct your health information by adding information to it. The right to amend does not mean a right to have information erased.

Right to Review. The right to have someone else review a health care provider’s denial of a request for a medical record.