Source: http://calpatientguide.org/iii.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 14:07:50+00:00

Document:
You have the right to obtain complete information about your medical condition and care.
You have the right to inspect your medical records within 5 days of making a written request.
You have the right to have your medical records kept confidential unless you provide written consent, except in limited circumstances.
You have the right to sue any person who unlawfully releases your medical information without your consent.
HOW CAN I OBTAIN MY OWN MEDICAL RECORDS?
You have the right to provide a health care provider with a written statement up to 250 words regarding any information contained in your medical records that you believe to be incorrect or incomplete. This statement will become part of your medical record and must be included whenever your medical records are disclosed by your health care provider to a third party.
Any corporation or entity that maintains medical records for the purpose of making them available to patients or health care providers for the purposes of diagnosing and treating must provide you, at no charge, with a copy of your records.
WHAT INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO PROTECTIONS CONCERNING MEDICAL RECORD CONFIDENTIALITY?
Any information about you, whether in electronic or physical form, regarding your medical history, mental or physical condition, or treatment is subject to California laws protecting your medical record confidentiality.
DO DOCTORS AND HMOs NEED TO OBTAIN MY CONSENT BEFORE RELEASING MY MEDICAL RECORDS?
WHAT DOES AN AUTHORIZATION FORM FOR RELEASE OF MY MEDICAL RECORDS HAVE TO INCLUDE TO BE VALID?
Be handwritten by you (or your authorized representative signing the authorization form) or be typewritten in no smaller than 8-point type.
Be clearly separate from any other language on the same page and have a line for your signature that serves no purpose other than to authorize the release of your information.
your spouse or person financially responsible for you for the sole purpose of processing an application for health care insurance or enrollment in a health care service plan or employee benefit plan when you are to be an enrolled spouse or dependent under the policy or plan.
CAN MY DOCTOR OR HMO RELEASE MY MEDICAL RECORDS WITHOUT MY CONSENT?
A court pursuant to a court order.
A board, commission, or administrative agency for purposes of resolving a dispute pursuant to its lawful authority.
A party to a proceeding before a court or administrative agency pursuant to an investigative subpoena.
An arbitrator or arbitration panel, when arbitration is lawfully requested by either party pursuant to a subpoena.
WHEN CAN MY EMPLOYER OBTAIN AND USE OR DISCLOSE MY MEDICAL RECORDS WITHOUT MY CONSENT?
When compelled by a judicial or administrative process.
When relevant to a lawsuit, arbitration or other claim when you have first raised your medical history, condition or treatment as an issue in the case.
For the purpose of administering and maintaining employee benefit plans, including plans providing for disability and workers' compensation, and for determining eligibility for paid and unpaid leave from work for medical reasons.
WHEN CAN AN INSURANCE COMPANY OBTAIN ACCESS TO MY MEDICAL RECORDS WITHOUT MY CONSENT?
Be written in plain language and dated.
Specify the persons authorized to disclose information about you.
Specify the nature of the information authorized to be disclosed.
Name the insurance institution or agent and identify generically representatives of the insurance institution to whom the individual is authorizing information to be disclosed.
Specify the purposes for which the information is collected.
one year from the date the authorization is signed if the application or request involves property or casualty insurance.
the duration of all claims processing activity performed in connection with all claims for benefits made by any person entitled to benefits under a nonprofit hospital service contract.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MY MEDICAL RECORD INFORMATION FROM BEING DISCLOSED WITHOUT MY CONSENT?
Carefully read any and all forms you are asked to sign allowing the release of your medical information. Under California law, most disclosures of your medical information require your written consent and must be limited to the specific purposes you authorize. You should carefully read any form disclosures that you may be given to sign by your doctor, HMO, other health care provider or employer. Pay particular attention to the purposes for which the medical record information may be released, and only sign if you agree to these uses. Do not be talked into signing a general release that authorizes your medical records to be released for "all legally valid purposes." If you do not understand any of the terms of the authorization, ask your doctor, health care provider, or employer providing you with the authorization form to thoroughly explain its terms.
Prepare a written statement to give your doctor or other health care provider if you want to have a particular visit or treatment kept confidential. If you do not want a particular treatment or condition to be disclosed to your insurance company or employer, write a statement to bring to your doctor or HMO. This statement should direct that you do not consent to release of your medical record information for that particular visit. Since insurers and employers may be entitled to certain medical information related to health care services that they are paying for, you may want to personally pay for those services for which you do not want any information disclosed.
Be careful when asked to provide medical history information to entities other than your doctor, HMO or insurance company. It is wise to limit the information you give out about your medical history to only those who need it for treatment of an illness or payment of a claim for health benefits. With the proliferation of Web-based health information sites, there are an increasing number of avenues from which third parties can gain access to your medical information.
There is an $8.50 charge for obtaining a copy of your MIB report.
WHAT REMEDIES DO I HAVE IF SOMEONE ILLEGALLY OBTAINS OR DISCLOSES MY MEDICAL RECORDS?
Anyone who illegally obtains or discloses your medical information that causes you economic loss or personal injury may be guilty of a misdemeanor under California law.
Actual damages sustained by you.
The Attorney General, any district attorney, city attorney, or city prosecutor may bring an action in the name of the people of California to recover a civil penalty. Licensing agencies or certifying boards may impose an administrative fine against individuals or entities that illegally obtain or disclose your medical record information.
Provides a consumer helpline and educational materials on a wide range of privacy issues. Visit their Web site at http://www.privacyrights.org (See Fact Sheet #8: How Private Is My Medical Information?) or call (619) 298-3396.
The information contained in this section is based on California law. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act passed by Congress in 1996 required that Congress pass regulations to protect patients medical record privacy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adopted the final rule officially published December 28, 2000. For more information on the new federal rule, go to http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/admnsimp/index.htm.
Cal. Health and Safety Code § 123100.
Cal. Health and Safety Code § 123110(a).
Cal. Health and Safety Code § 123110(b).
Cal. Health and Safety Code § 123110(c).
Cal. Civil Code § 56 et seq.
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(a).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(d) (italics added).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.101.
Cal. Civil Code § 1798.81.
Cal. Civil Code § 1798.82.
Cal. Civil Code § 56.11.
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(b).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(3).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(4).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(5).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(6).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(7).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(8).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(9).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(10).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(12).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(13).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(14).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(15).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(16).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.10(c)(17).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.20(c).
Cal. Civil Code § 56.20(b).
Insurance Code § 791 et seq.
Cal. Ins. Code § 791.06.

References: § 123100
 § 123110
 § 123110
 § 123110
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 1798
 § 1798
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 56
 § 791
 § 791