Privacy of Medical Information Act

Summary

Privacy of Medical Information Act - Title I: Requirements Applicable to Medical Care Facilities - Requires medical care facilities to permit individuals to inspect and have copies of their medical records. Provides for the correction of medical records at the individual's request. Directs medical care facilities to notify individuals of disclosures that may be made without the individual's authorization and the procedures to learn of such disclosures. Limits the disclosure of medical information to properly identified persons. Permits the disclosure of medical records without the individual's authorization in specified circumstances, including employee use, health research, statutory requirements, audits and evaluations, law enforcement functions, judicial and administrative provisions, and benefit determinations. Authorizes U.S. district courts to grant delays, in specified circumstances, before making written statements available to the individual concerning such disclosure. Requires medical care facilities receiving Federal funds to comply with the disclosure provisions. Exempts medical information compiled by a medical care facility in anticipation of a civil action from the provisions concerning individual access and corrections. Requires penal authorities to comply only with the provisions concerning permissible disclosures of medical information. Title II: Requirements Applicable to Government Authorities - Sets forth limits on disclosures of medical information to governmental authorities. Establishes procedures for obtaining medical information pursuant to administrative and judicial search warrants, subpoenas, and written requests. Stipulates that the individual be notified of such disclosures unless an appropriate court orders a delay. Permits an individual to challenge a summons or subpoena of such individual's records by a governmental authority. Title III: General Provisions - Provides criminal and civil penalties for violations of the disclosure provisions. Exempts compliance surveys from the disclosure provisions in the Social Security Act. Requires Federal authorities requesting medical information concerning an individual to maintain records on its requests for such information. Exempts medical records maintained by medical care facilities from the disclosure provisions generally applicable to government agencies.

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1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 4 April 1979

  Open at official source

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