How Does Your Practice Respond to a Patient’s Right of Access?

Led by the Virginia MGMA in collaboration with the PA MGMA & the WV MGMAs

How does your practice respond to a patient’s request to access their records? The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives patients the right to see and get copies of their health information. Providers are required to respond to those requests in a timely manner and only charge the patient a reasonable fee. Since the original HIPAA Privacy Rule was published, conflicting guidance has caused a lot of confusion about the process. Patients who have trouble getting copies of their records or are charged high fees for copies have filed complaints with The Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR issued its 27th Right of Access Initiative settlement agreement in March 2022.

Join Abby G. Mitchell, HCISPP, CRISC, CHPC, CHC, as she gives an update on the OCR’s Right of Access Initiative and walks you through the requirements for patient access requests, permitted fees, and what to consider when developing your process.
After attending this webinar, an attendee should be able to:

•    Discuss the importance of the patient’s right of access granted by HIPAA
•    Identify the components of a designated record set.
•    Describe the different types of access requests.
•    Recall guidance on allowable fees for access requests.

About the Speaker

Abby G. Mitchell, HCISPP, CRISC, CHPC, CHC
Senior Compliance Specialist
Total Medical Compliance


Abby began her career as a corporate paralegal and has worn many hats in large companies as well as healthcare startups. Prior to joining Total Medical Compliance, she served as Privacy Officer and Data Governance Liaison at CoverMyMeds. Abby earned a bachelor’s degree in German translation and paralegal studies from Kent State University and holds privacy and security certifications from the Health Care Compliance Association, ISACA, and ISC2. She currently volunteers as the Vice President of the Charlotte, North Carolina Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association.

Cost

Free// PA MGMA Members   $35// Non-Members

Continuing Education Units

Earn up to 1.0 continuing education unit hours for each hour of education from the ACMPE, American College of Medical Practice Executives.