The American Health Information Management Association unveiled a model patient request for health information form July 20.
The standardized form is a modifiable template for organizations to give patients when they request access to their protected health information. AHIMA's goal is to streamline patient health information request processes in compliance with patients' rights as established by the HHS Office for Civil Rights. AHIMA hopes its suggested model — which does not replace third-party authorization forms or address state-specific laws — will help organizations meet the 30-day timeframe for patient access required under HIPAA.
Several healthcare and patient advocacy groups told AHIMA consumers find the patient access forms currently used by providers inconsistent or confusing. To address this issue, AHIMA aimed to write its standardized patient health information request form in "easy-to-understand language," AHIMA interim CEO Pamela Lane said.
"Our hope is that it will help connect patients with their health information and make them more empowered healthcare consumers," Ms. Lane said.
More articles on health IT:
FTC names acting chief technologist
LinkedIn, Ohio stakeholders join forces to analyze data on local health IT talent
New York community hospital receives $5.7M state grant to implement Epic EMR