Patients May Now Access Test Reports Directly From Labs

October 7, 2011 – On September 14, 2011, HHS proposed new rules that would expand patients’ rights to access their health care information.  The proposed new rules would allow patients to access their test results directly from laboratories by request.  The rules would ensure that labs covered under HIPPA readily provide the requested information to patients or personal relatives.
 
This proposed rule will preempt any contrary State law that does not allow the release of laboratory results from the lab itself.
 
The rules were jointly drafted by CMS, HHS and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to amend the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) regulations and privacy regulations formed by HIPAA.

Anyone who wishes to comment on these proposed rules should do so by November 13, 2011, no later than 5:00 p.m.  
 
You may read more about the proposed rule in CMS’  HHS Fact Sheet

Tags: CMS Updates