NE News: Medical records access discussed

On Thursday (1/21/2010), the Health and Human Services Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature heard testimony on a proposed bill that would eliminate the current 180-day limit on authorization for the release of individual health information.  Testimony primarily focuses on HIPAA privacy requirements and provider access to electronic medical files.  Unfortunately, LB 702 fails to address the barriers that the "patient" faces when he or she wishes to see their medical records.  State statute (§ 71-8403) would continue to allow "any treating physician, psychologist, or mental health practitioner" to limit the patient's access to their records if they determine "in his or her professional opinion that release of the records would not be in the best interest of the patient unless the release is required by court order."  To read more . . .