HHS opens up national patient access to lab test reports

摘要

THE HEALTHCARE PATIENT engagement revolution rolls on in the US, with the latest victory for patient advocates coming via a change in patient access rights to lab test information. New legislation recently enacted makes it easier than ever before for all US patients to gain access to their medical laboratory results and records.On February 6, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final rule "Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) Program and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule; Patients' Access to Test Reports." This final rule amends the CLIA amendments of 1988 "to specify that, upon request of a patient (or the patient's personal representative), laboratories subject to CLIA may provide the patient, the patient's personal representative, or a person designated by the patient, as applicable, with copies of completed test reports that, using the laboratory's authentication process, can be identified as belonging to the patient."