The Department of Health and Human Services recently proposed an amendment to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The amendment would allow patients to receive a report indicating when organizations and individuals have accessed their medical records, or Protected Health Information (PHI).

Currently, healthcare organizations are required to track access to electronic PHI, but are not obligated to share their findings with a patient.

“This proposed rule represents an important step in our continued efforts to promote accountability across the healthcare system, ensuring that providers properly safeguard private health information,” said Office of Civil Rights Director Georgina Verdugo.

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