AHIMA Advocacy Summit Part 2: Right to Access vs. Right of Access - Do You Know the Difference?

This summit was very enlightening and educational.  It was a true pleasure representing OHIMA.  There were several presentations that caught my attention.  One particular presentation was by Aneesh Chopra, President, NavHealth.  Aneesh discussed the differences between Right to Access (HIPAA Compliant Authorization) and Right of Access.  The distinction between the two was not well known amongst the audience.  Right to Access is a right given under HIPAA that allows individuals and or their representatives to obtain access to their protected health information (PHI).  This right includes the ability to obtain a copy of their PHI as well as have a covered entity transmit a copy of said PHI to a designated person or entity as specified in the HIPAA compliant authorization.  The right to access exists as long as the covered entity or its business associate maintains the information no matter when it was created.  The manner in which the record is maintained (electronic, paper, onsite, offsite or archived) does not matter.

Right of Access is the ability to view the designated record set.  The  Right of Access should be granted by utilizing a separate form than that used for the Right to Access.  The form should specifically address the fact that the patient or their representative is being given the right to review their PHI or medical record.  The right is not to obtain copies but simply to review them.  In the audience there was on only one person who actually had a separate authorization for Right of Access.  It was the suggestion of Aneesh that an ROI (Release of Information) Forum be created to share this information as well as the existing authorization form.  

Watch for more information from OHIMA and AHIMA on 'Right to Access' and 'Right of Access' in the near future!

About the Author

Tonya L. Bates, RHIA is the Corporate Manager of Release of Information for University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.  Tonya currently serves on the OHIMA 2017-18 Board as the Innovation Director and chair of the Advocacy Committee

AHIMA Advocacy Summit: Part 1

“The meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” This quote by Nelson Henderson, underscores AHIMA’s goal to prepare the Health Information Management (HIM) workforce for the future.

AHIMA’s Advocacy Summit took place in Washington, DC on March 27-28, 2017.  Continuing to Inspire, Innovate and Lead, the HIM Summit participants were provided an AHIMA update, encouraged to think about yourself differently – you are not “Just a…….”, challenged to re-imagine healthcare, and presented with information to prepare for congressional staff visits.  It was a packed agenda with thought provoking presentations by Aneesh Chopra, President, NavHealth who invited a new way of thinking for interoperability of consumer directed exchange (there is interoperability for music, but not in healthcare) and Whitney Bowman-Zatzkin, Managing Director, Flip the Clinic, who uses system thinking design to provide outcomes that matter.  Check out Fliptheclinic.org for tools and ideas.

Cora Han, Senior Attorney, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Federal Trade Commission addressed privacy and security challenges associated with non-HIPAA covered entities and business associates.  FTC.gov is a good resource for security business guides, including information for mobile app developers.

Deven McGraw, Deputy Director, Health Information Privacy, office for Civil Rights (OCR) provided information for the Right of Access vs. authorization. (to be covered in more detail in next blog).  The OCR has monthly newsletters you can sign up to receive addressing such items as cyber security.

All the presentations provided meaningful information preparing us to speak to congressional staff regarding the 21st Century Cures Act which included language requiring the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate ways in which the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) could improve patient matching methods.  AHIMA’s request to congress in 2017 is to clarify the current prohibition for the use of appropriated funds by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the 1999 Omnibus appropriations Act, to promulgate or adopt any standard for a unique health identifier until legislation is enacted specifically approving the standard, doesn’t hinder the ability of HHS to assist private-sector led initiatives focused on developing a coordinated strategy to improve patient matching.

Tonya Bates, Krystal Phillips and Sandy Seabold met with their respective legislative aides and spoke with Senator Sherrod Brown in the hallway.

Washington DC was quite the scene, with the Cherry Blossoms blooming, Advocacy representatives from many groups and “activity on the Hill”, as locals say. 

Thank you for the opportunity; we were proud to represent Ohio and the HIM profession!!


 

About the Author

Sandra Seabold, MBA, RHIA is the Data Integrity Manager, Coding at the Cleveland Clinic and currently serves as the OHIMA 2016-17 Board President.  

Advocating for the HIM profession: Opening Up Minds and Doors…

What does it mean to advocate for the HIM Profession?  
To Wondra Taylor, RHIT, a young HIM professional, it means being willing to go back to school… She has been opening up doors for students around Cleveland and surrounding areas introducing them to the HIM profession.  Within a year of starting her coding leadership position, she has become the coordinator for student practicums, been invited to local high schools, colleges, job fairs, online mentoring, and association meetings, all in the name of promoting HIM…. Her Director has dubbed her quite the HIM ambassador..

What does it take to advocate for the HIM profession?  
A smile, a few hours out of her work/personal day, a passion for HIM and willingness to talk to young adults (future generation). High school and college students are eager to hear you share about your professional background.

How does this impact the profession?
Provides valuable feed back to the college advisory boards regarding workforce needs for them to incorporate into their curriculum and let’s students know about career choices in health information management.  Communication with Academic Institutions, students, and healthcare facilities is vital to keep everyone well-informed.   Professional work experience shared provides examples to students in preparation for interviews, jobs, and professional expectations, etc.
Talk about being a leader – stepping out of “a routine role” to expand horizons.

Result:  
Satisfaction when seeing students look of interest in HIM, knowing that you may have planted a seed for a future upcoming HIM professional, and receiving  recognition by being asked to participate in an Aspiring leader practicum.

You too can do this!  Please reach out to OHIMA if you want to take the next step in advocating for HIM… and considering joining us for the HIM Advocacy Day on October 4, 2017!

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela 

HIM Advocacy Day 2016

Mark your calendars for our third annual HIM Advocacy Day: October 4, 2017!

This past autumn, on Wednesday, October 5th, 47 HIM professionals arrived at the Ohio Statehouse to advocate for Health Information Management at the second annual HIM Advocacy Day. 

After a training session, advocates broke into groups to meet with 21 different state legislative offices!  During these appointments, advocates discussed hot topics of HIM such as telemedicine, EAPGs and the support of HIM and HIT college programs in Ohio to support the rapidly growing healthcare field. 

In addition to meeting with legislators, the agenda also consisted of some fabulous presentations.  Hayden Pritchard and Jennifer Edlind from US Acute Care Solutions discussed hot topics in healthcare privacy and security.  Dr. Matthew Fairman shared how Cleveland Clinic is handling telemedicine and distance health at the Cleveland Clinic.  Robin Canowitz and Liam Gruzs, two attorneys from Vorys, shared their expertise on patient requests for medical records in Ohio – which was especially interesting after the OIG’s released their clarification on charging for medical record requests in the Spring.  Amy Andres from the Ohio Hospital Association talked about how Ohio hospitals are using coding and billing data to reduce sepsis mortality. 

Here’s what some of our advocates had to say about the event:

We had such a great day! … Being my first time ever at an OHIMA advocacy day, I was a little nervous and not sure what to expect. … It was very interesting and a great experience for us. The presentations were very enjoyable and overall it was an excellent networking opportunity.
Heather Clark, CCS

The speakers were very informative!
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Although I was nervous I enjoyed meeting with the reps.
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AHIMA has their annual Advocacy Summit in the Spring.  This is the national version of Ohio's Advocacy Day, where you are able to meet and establish a relationship with the U.S. Senators and Representatives on their home turf in Washington D.C.

Thank you to all who participated in Ohio’s advocacy event!   Don’t miss out on being an advocate for HIM – it’s a memorable, informative and fun activity.  Please mark your calendars for this year’s HIM Advocacy Day, which will take place on October 4, 2017 at the Ohio Statehouse.  Watch the OHIMA website for more details.