Patient Access
How Much Can You Be Charged for Your Medical Records?
What a provider can legally charge for a copy of your medical records under HIPAA: the four allowed costs, what can't be billed to you, and how to push back.
For compliance & privacy officers
Records access, done right — before OCR asks
The HIPAA right of access is one of the most-enforced obligations in healthcare. This is what your records process looks like from the requester's side — the 30-day clock, the fee limits, the denials that don't hold up — and where practices get caught.
Patient Access
The right of access in practice: timelines, formats, fees, and denials that survive scrutiny.
Patient Access
How to Get a Copy of Your Medical Records
A step-by-step guide to requesting a copy of your medical records, what to expect, how long it takes, and what you can be charged.
Patient Access
Your Right to Access Records Under HIPAA
Understand your HIPAA right of access: what records you can get, the 30-day timeline, allowed fees, and what to do if you are denied.
Patient Access
Using a Patient Portal Effectively
Learn what a patient portal does and how to use it to view records, message your care team, manage appointments, and refill prescriptions.
Patient Access
What to Do If Your Records Have Errors
Found a mistake in your medical record? Learn your HIPAA right to request an amendment, how to file it, and what happens if it's denied.
Patient Access
Accessing a Family Member's Health Records
When can you access a relative's medical records? Learn about personal representatives, proxy portal access, minors, and caregiver rights under HIPAA.
Patient Access
How to Request Records for a Deceased Loved One
Who can get a deceased person's medical records, what documents you'll need, and how HIPAA protects health information for 50 years after death.
Interoperability
API and third-party app access — what you must release, and what you are not required to police.
Interoperability
What Is Health Data Interoperability?
Interoperability lets your health records move securely between providers and apps. Learn what it means and why it matters for your care.
Interoperability
How FHIR Connects Health Apps
FHIR is the standard that lets health apps securely pull your records from providers. Here's how it works and what it means for patients.
Interoperability
Sharing Records Between Providers
How to get your records sent from one doctor to another, what providers can share without your sign-off, and how to make handoffs smooth.
Interoperability
Health Information Exchanges Explained
A health information exchange (HIE) lets providers securely share your records across organizations. Learn how HIEs work and your choices.
Records Management
Retention, completeness, and the documentation that proves your process worked.
Records Management
What's Actually in Your Medical Record?
A plain-language tour of what your medical record contains: the designated record set, visit notes, results, billing data, and the few parts you can't get.
Records Management
How Long Are Medical Records Kept?
How long do doctors and hospitals keep your medical records? Learn the factors that set retention periods and why they vary by state and record type.
Records Management
Organizing Your Personal Health Information
Build a personal health record you can actually use. Tips for organizing medications, conditions, results, and key documents in one place.
Records Management
Understanding Your After-Visit Summary
Your after-visit summary recaps your appointment. Learn what each section means and how to use it to follow your care plan.
Records Management
Reading Your Lab Results
Lab results can look intimidating. Learn how to read reference ranges, flags, and units — and when to call your doctor about a result.
Records Management
Consolidating Records From Multiple Providers
Have records scattered across doctors, hospitals, and portals? Learn practical ways to gather them into one complete, usable health record.
Privacy
Who may see records, what requires authorization, and what to do when information is exposed.
Privacy
Who Can See Your Health Records?
Who is actually allowed to view your medical records? Learn how HIPAA limits access and who can see your health information without your sign-off.
Privacy
HIPAA Rights Every Patient Should Know
A quick guide to your core HIPAA rights: access, amendments, restrictions, disclosure accounting, privacy notices, and how to file a complaint.
Privacy
Health Apps and Your Privacy
Many health and wellness apps aren't covered by HIPAA. Learn what that means for your data and how to protect your privacy before you connect.
Privacy
Protecting Records From a Data Breach
What to do if your health information is exposed in a data breach: your notification rights, steps to protect yourself, and how to watch for fraud.
Privacy
Authorizations and Releasing Your Information
When does releasing your health records require a signed authorization? Learn what a HIPAA authorization includes and how to revoke one.
Privacy
Your Teen's Medical Records and Privacy
When can a parent see a teenager's medical records, and when can't they? A plain-language guide to minors, personal representatives, and state-law exceptions.