Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects access to health insurance coverage and secures sensitive healthcare information. HIPAA refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996.According to the legislation itself, the stated goal of HIPAA was "to improve portability and continuity of
Learn how the Medical Information Bureau (MIB), a reporting agency that tracks medical histories, collects patient information. Most consumers are well aware of credit reporting agencies. They keep track of how well we pay our bills and manage our credit so lenders can decide whether to loan us the money we need for mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and other credit
Sometimes there are errors in medical records. Learn how to review your medical records and properly correct any errors you find. By law, you have the right to correct errors in your medical records. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ensures that your medical records are private. Another important part of this law allows you to request
Your family medical history can help you and your doctor determine a diagnosis or help you avoid the risk factors that may lead to disease. Your personal medical records will be vitally important when it comes to tracking illnesses and medical problems you have or may develop throughout your lifetime. Among the components of your medical records will be your family medical
Smart patients understand the importance of hearing back from the doctor about any medical tests. Here's how to get those results. When was the last time you had a medical test—anything from a blood test or a mammogram to a computerized tomography (CT) scan—and you didn’t hear back from the doctor’s office with your medical test results?Or maybe your doctor told you
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a worldwide system of diagnostic codes used in health care, billing, and morbidity statistics. International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are found on patient paperwork, including hospital records, medical charts, visit summaries, and bills. These codes ensure that you get proper treatment and are charged appropriately for any
Medical Records, Privacy, Accuracy, and Patients' Rights
Our medical records are a chronology of everything that has affected our health or created a medical problem. Learn about our right to these records. Medical records are the footprints you make through the medical system. From the moment you are born, your medical records are a chronology of everything that has affected your health or has created a medical problem.Two decades ago, those records
Phone and Online Service Codes on Your Medical Bill
You may see these CPT and HCPCS billing codes on your medical bill. The code represents charges for consulting with your physician via phone or email. You might spend a lot of time on the phone with your doctor, nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA). In some circumstances, you or your health insurer may be billed for these phone consultations as medical services.In the past,