Low Vision Privacy of Personal Health Records Privacy rules for personal health records, released by HHS December 2000, restrict information used and disclosed by health-care providers and insurance companies.
Patients have the right to get copies of their records and to request corrections.
They also are entitled to know how their information is being used and to whom it is being disclosed. This new regulation generally restricts the information used and disclosed to the minimum amount necessary, except for purposes of medical treatment. Providers may no longer release a patient s entire health record, when less information will do. If privacy protections are violated, people have the right to complain to a covered provider or health plan or directly to the HHS Secretary. Criminal penalties are also included.