Release of Information Resources

Releasing health information to other healthcare providers and authorized users is a core, yet necessary function when managing health information.  To the untrained eye, disclosing personal health information (PHI) may appear to be a simple task.  However, closer analysis of the process reveals that many laws, regulations, policies and procedures must be addressed to ensure that release of information (ROI) is timely, accurate, complete and confidential.

It is the responsibility of the HIM Professional to effectively and efficiently manage and maintain the overall processes involved in the release of PHI.  For example, one of the many essential processes in managing ROI is identifying the location of the components that define the legal medical record and designated record set to ensure the right information is released.  Additionally, policies and procedures on access, disclosure, and printing need to be created, implemented, reviewed and maintained.  HIM professionals possess the required skill set and expertise needed to ensure that PHI is available to the right people at the right time.

Books

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• The Legal Health Record:  Regulations, Policies and Guidelines, 2nd Edition
  
• Fundamentals of Law for Health Informatics and Information Management
• Policies and Procedures: A Health Information Manager's Toolkit
  

• Release of Information Publication

E-Learning &
Audio Seminars

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• Privacy and Security—Managing Access, Amendment, and Disclosure
• Best Practices In Release of Information

Learn more about AHIMA's E-Learning opportunities.

• Catch and Release: Processing Electronic ROI Requests
  
• Proposed Regulations for Accounting of Disclosures
  
• Defining Minimum Necessary: Are You Stretching the Limits of the Privacy Rule?
• Defining TPO: Are You Stretching the Privacy Rule Limits?
• E-Discovery: Can Your EHR Support Malpractice Litigation?
  
• HITECH and Release of Information
• Release of Information: The Nuts and Bolts
• Request for Restrictions and Electronic Access: Are you Paying Attention?

Learn more about AHIMA's Audio Seminars.

Practice Briefs
& Articles

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• Accounting and Tracking Disclosures of Protected Health Information
• Electronic Signature, Attestation, and Authorship (Updated)
• Enabling Patient Access - Data Stewardship Involves More Than Data Use and Disclosure
  
• Facsimile Transmission of Health Information (Updated)
• Health Data Access, Use, and Control
• Fundamentals of the Legal Health Record and Designated Record Set
  
• Implementing the Minimum Necessary
• Laws and Regulations Governing the Disclosure of Health Information (Updated)
• Managing Health Information Relating to Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (Updated)
• Managing the Transition from Paper to EHRs
• Patient Access and Amendment to Health Records (Updated)
  
• Patient Photography, Videotaping, and Other Imaging (Updated)
• Redisclosure of Patient Health Information (Updated)
• Release of Information Reimbursement Laws and Regulations
• Release of Information for Marketing or Fund-raising Purposes (Updated)
• Practice Brief: Understanding the Minimum Necessary Standard (Updated)

 
Communities
of Practice

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• Compliance
• HIPAA
• HITECH-ARRA
  
• Release of Information Legal

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External Resources

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• HHS Health Information Privacy (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)
• Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information (HIPAA Privacy Rule)
• Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Action and Implementation Manual
• GAO Report on Electronic Personal Health Information Exchange
• State Medical Record Copying Charges