AoA Issues Information Memorandum Washington, DC (Feb. 2003). Administration on Aging provides guidance on ombudsman access to resident records under HIPAA Privacy Rule. Read memorandum here for answers to your questions.
AoA Memo to State Ombudsmen Washington, DC (Feb. 2003). AoA writes to nursing home associations to get the word out about HIPAA privacy rule and ombudsman work. Memo asks State Ombudsmen for help in spreading the word.
HHS has HIPAA news of interest to nursing homes - For SNFs and others struggling with the HIPAA privacy rule, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently added new frequently asked questions (FAQs) to its Web site. (March 2003). Go to http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/whatsnew.html and look under news for March 13.
HHS publishes notice in Federal Register (March 20, 2003) - how residents, patients, and others can file complaints against health care providers that don't follow the privacy rule. Go to http://www.hipaapro.com/news/hipaa_downloads.cfm to download the complaint notice.
Health Assistance Partnership issues brief (April 2003). Sonya Schwartz of HAP, a project of Families USA, explains rights to access medical records under the new rule. The full document is available here. You may also go to the Partnership website at www.healthassistancepartnership.org, click private insurance and "What's New."
