Electronic Medical Record Privacy

Electronic medical records are meant to enhanceaccessed by a number of entities. Insurance
the provision of medical care. In order to be mostcompanies often require a release of medical
effective, such records need to describe eachinformation before they issue a policy or make a
patient as comprehensively as possible. They maypayment on a patient's behalf. Insurance
therefore contain information about lifestylecompanies may, in turn, share certain medical
factors, such as engaging in high-risk sports, orinformation with other financial institutions. Under
smoking. Sensitive information on medications andfederal law, insurance companies are required to
clinical conditions are also recorded, as are riskallow clients to opt out of sharing their information
factors for various diseases.with other companies. Many insurance companies
To protect patient privacy and to prevent misusein the United States also share and access medical
of confidential and potentially sensitive information,information through the Medical Information
the US Congress passed the Health InsuranceBureau. While information in the Bureau database
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996,is not governed by HIPAA, anyone listed in the
and a more stringent Privacy Rule went intodatabase is entitled to a free report and the right
effect in 2003. HIPAA sets required nationalto have any incorrect information corrected.
standards for medical records, guaranteesIf an individual is on any form of
patients the right to see their own medicalgovernment-sponsored medical assistance, such
records, and requires providers to inform patientsas Medicare, Social Security Disability or Worker's
how their medical information is used andCompensation, his or her medical records can be
disclosed. However, there are still ways foraccessed by government agencies. In addition to
interested parties to gain access to medicalinsurance companies and the government, current
records.and future employers can also gain access to
Patient information in medical records can bemedical records under certain conditions.