Next, you have the right to look at and get a copy of your entire health record that is maintained by each of your providers. Why would you want a copy of your health records?

Because unscrupulous employees at doctors’ offices can -- and do -- steal health information and use it to steal identities, or sell it to others who will.

Example: in 2004, an employee of a cancer center in Seattle stole the identity of

What about your healthcare information? Are you doing everything you can to make sure that your private health information is protected? Do you know what your healthcare privacy rights are?

Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996. The HIPAA Privacy Rules, which were created by the Department of Health & Human Services, became effective in April 2003.

You now have the rights you need in order to make sure that your healthcare information is safe. If you have any concerns that it isn’t, then you can complain to your provider or complain directly to Health & Human Services.

Rest assured, should you complain to Health & Human Services, your complaint will be investigated. Since April 2003, more than 15,000 complaints have been received and addressed.

So, what are your healthcare privacy rights?

First, all healthcare providers such as doctors, dentists, optometrists, etc., are required to give you a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices. Has yours?

Each time you visit a new provider for the first time, their office should give you a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices. If they don’t -- insist that they do.

The copy of the Notice must be one that you can take with you, or, your providers may arrange to mail it to you. But, they do not get to just show it to you, and then keep it themselves.

HIPAA requires the Notice to explain to you, in plain language, what your rights are, what your provider’s responsibilities are to protect your privacy, and it must tell you how your healthcare information can be used and shared. If the Notice doesn’t tell you your rights, insist on getting one that does.

Next, you have the right to look at and get a copy of your entire health record that is maintained by each of your providers. Why would you want a copy of your health records?

Because unscrupulous employees at doctors’ offices can -- and do -- steal health information and use it to steal identities, or sell it to others who will.

Example: in 2004, an employee of a cancer center in Seattle stole the identity of

Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996. The HIPAA Privacy Rules, which were created by the Department of Health & Human Services, became effective in April 2003.

You now have the rights you need in order to make sure that your healthcare information is safe. If you have any concerns that it isn’t, then you can complain to your provider or complain directly to Health & Human Services.

Rest assured, should you complain to Health & Human Services, your complaint will be investigated. Since April 2003, more than 15,000 complaints have been received and addressed.

So, what are your healthcare privacy rights?

First, all healthcare providers such as doctors, dentists, optometrists, etc., are required to give you a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices. Has yours?

Each time you visit a new provider for the first time, their office should give you a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices. If they don’t -- insist that they do.

The copy of the Notice must be one that you can take with you, or, your providers may arrange to mail it to you. But, they do not get to just show it to you, and then keep it themselves.

HIPAA requires the Notice to explain to you, in plain language, what your rights are, what your provider’s responsibilities are to protect your privacy, and it must tell you how your healthcare information can be used and shared. If the Notice doesn’t tell you your rights, insist on getting one that does.

Next, you have the right to look at and get a copy of your entire health record that is maintained by each of your providers. Why would you want a copy of your health records?

Because unscrupulous employees at doctors’ offices can -- and do -- steal health information and use it to steal identities, or sell it to others who will.

Example: in 2004, an employee of a cancer center in Seattle stole the identity of

So, what are your healthcare privacy rights?

First, all healthcare providers such as doctors, dentists, optometrists, etc., are required to give you a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices. Has yours?

Each time you visit a new provider for the first time, their office should give you a copy of their Notice of Privacy Practices. If they don’t -- insist that they do.

The copy of the Notice must be one that you can take with you, or, your providers may arrange to mail it to you. But, they do not get to just show it to you, and then keep it themselves.

HIPAA requires the Notice to explain to you, in plain language, what your rights are, what your provider’s responsibilities are to protect your privacy, and it must tell you how your healthcare information can be used and shared. If the Notice doesn’t tell you your rights, insist on getting one that does.

Next, you have the right to look at and get a copy of your entire health record that is maintained by each of your providers. Why would you want a copy of your health records?

Because unscrupulous employees at doctors’ offices can -- and do -- steal health information and use it to steal identities, or sell it to others who will.

Example: in 2004, an employee of a cancer center in Seattle stole the identity of

The copy of the Notice must be one that you can take with you, or, your providers may arrange to mail it to you. But, they do not get to just show it to you, and then keep it themselves.

HIPAA requires the Notice to explain to you, in plain language, what your rights are, what your provider’s responsibilities are to protect your privacy, and it must tell you how your healthcare information can be used and shared. If the Notice doesn’t tell you your rights, insist on getting one that does.

Next, you have the right to look at and get a copy of your entire health record that is maintained by each of your providers. Why would you want a copy of your health records?

Because unscrupulous employees at doctors’ offices can -- and do -- steal health information and use it to steal identities, or sell it to others who will.

Example: in 2004, an employee of a cancer center in Seattle stole the identity of

Next, you have the right to look at and get a copy of your entire health record that is maintained by each of your providers. Why would you want a copy of your health records?

Because unscrupulous employees at doctors’ offices can -- and do -- steal health information and use it to steal identities, or sell it to others who will.

Example: in 2004, an employee of a cancer center in Seattle stole the identity of a patient, and used the information to spend over $9000 on fake charge cards. That person was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison.

Example: just last year, a disgruntled former employee in Providence stole the health information of 200,000 patients. He was caught before he could do any damage, and was recently indicted. There are many more examples of stolen health information.

What if your information is stolen from your provider? If this should happen, your provider must notify you so that you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself, such as run a credit report, check for fraudulent use of your credit cards and bank accounts, etc.

So, you should request a copy of your health records from all your providers. They are required to give you the copy within 30 days of your request.

If your providers cannot give the copy to you within 30 days, they must notify you of their reasons in writing, and then give you a copy within another 30 days.

If your providers do not give you a copy of your health records within a total of 60 days, you can complain to them, or you can file a complaint directly with Health & Human Services.

You may ask for and receive as many copies of your health records as you like, as often as you like. Your rights do not limit the number of copies you may have.

Your providers are allowed to charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee for the copying and postage. Some providers will give you the first copy of your records at no charge, but charge you for additional copies. Other providers will charge you for every copy.

What if you get a copy of your health record and notice that something is not correct? You now have the right to ask your healthcare providers to change the information in your health record if you think that it is incomplete or is not accurate. They can refuse your request to change the information, but if they do, they must furnish the