Final answer:
HIPAA regulates the amendment of protected health information, allowing patients to request changes to ensure accuracy and completeness, with some exceptions. The law restricts the disclosure of individually identifiable health information to entities not involved in patient care. GINA, enacted in 2008, provides additional protections specifically against genetic discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
When requesting an amendment of protected health information, the amendment request can only pertain to health information as described under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA, established in 1996, creates standards for ensuring the confidentiality and privacy of patient health information. It is this legislation that mandates how health information is to be handled by entities like insurance companies and healthcare providers. Moreover, HIPAA restricts the unauthorized or nonconsensual release of individually identifiable health information, protecting such data from being made available to entities not involved in the patient’s direct care. Furthermore, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008, strengthens these protections, particularly against genetic discrimination.
The essence of the amendment right under HIPAA is to allow patients to request changes to their health records held by entities covered by the act, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their protected health information. However, this right is not absolute, and healthcare providers can deny amendments for certain reasons such as if the information is deemed accurate and complete, not part of the designated record set, or not created by the provider. It’s important for all healthcare professionals, patients, and anyone handling sensitive patient information to understand these regulations and the scope of the patients’ rights to amend their health records.