Does HIPAA affect the patient's access to his or her medical records

can someone take a look on my HIPAA RESEARCH PROJECT FOR ME PLEASE.THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT ME TO DO, ANSWERS EACH QUESTION IN COMPLETE PARAGRAPH THAT INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTORY SENTENCE, AT LEAST FOUR SENTENCES OF EXPLAINATION, AND A CONCLUDING SENTENCE. PROVIDES CLEAR ORGANIZATION (FOR EXAMPLE, USES WORDS LIKE FIRST, HOWEVER, ON THE OTHER HAND, AND SO ON, CONSEQUENTLY, SINCE, NEXT AND WHEN)WRITES IN HIS OR HER OWN WORDS AND USES QUOTATION MARKS TO INDICATE DIRECT QUOTATIONS. These are the questions #1 Does HIPAA affect the patient’s access to his or her medical records? If so, discribe the effect and the procedure for obtaining access. #2 Under what circumstances can personal health information be used for purposes unrelated to health care?#3 Are there requirements for covered entities to have written privacy policies? If so, what has to be addressed in the policy? If my paper is all wrong will you please write an example for me this is my first time doing this. Thankyou so very much for your help.The Health Insurance POrtability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)The Congress mandated implementation of several federal privacy protections that allows patients to have more control over their health information,put clear on the use and the releasing of specific health records (CDCP 2003). HIPAA do not affect patients’ access to their medical records. The Privacy Ruel ensures a national floor of privacy protections for patiens by limiting the ways that health plans, pharmacies, hospitals, and others covered entities can use patient’s personal health information.Patients generlly should be able to see and obtain copies of their medical records and request corrections if they identify errors , mistakes and so on. Health plans, doctors, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other covered entities generlly should provide access these records within 30 days. On the other hand they mey charge patients for the cost of coping and sending the records. (OCR 2003) The Privacy Rule is designed to empower pateins by gruaranteeing them access to hteir medical records, giving them more control over how their PHI is used and disclosed, and providing a clear avenue for recourse if their medical privacy is compromised. Since the rule is designed to protect medical records and other personal health information maintained by certain health care providers, hospitals, health plans, health insurers and health care clearinghouse. (CDCP) tHE pRIVACY Rule permits used and disclosure of protected health information, without individual’s authorization or permission, for 12 national priority purposes. These disclosures are permited, although not required, by the Rule in recognition of the important uses made of health information outside of health care context. Specific conditions or limitations appy to each public interest need for this information. These are the circumstances personal health information can be used for purposes unrelated to health care. Requires by law; Public Health Activities; Vivtims of Abuse; Neglect or Domistic Violence; Health Oversight Activities; Judicial and Administrative Proceedings; Law Enforcement Purposes; Decedents, Cadaveric Organ, Eye, or Tissue Donation; Research; Serious Threat to Health or Safety; Essential Government Functions; Workers Copensation. (OCR 2003) Yes Covered Entities are requires to do alot of things. First they must adopt written PHI privacy procedures; designate a privacy officer; require their business associates the necessity to sign agreements respecting the confidentiality of PHI; train all of their employees in privscy rule requirements. However, these entities have to give patients written notice of the covered entities’ privacy practices and access to their medical records, a chance to limit the use or dislcosure of their information, the ability to have a accounting of any use to which the PHI has been put, and the chance to request alternative method of communicating information. The Covered Entity’s written privacy procedures must include safeguards for administration of PHI, physical security of such information, and electronic and other types of technical security. (TWC 2004)