When it comes to mailing your patient's medical records, you need to follow strict HIPAA rules. First, it is illegal to send PHI through regular U.S. mail. Instead, you must send it through certified mail or first-class mail, and you should encrypt your emails and faxes. You should also send your medical records by first-class mail when possible. You should sign for your mail and track your delivery to ensure your documents are properly delivered. You should also consider how you position your mail piece. For example, using a postcard could expose your patient's private health information, so you should use a letter package or self-mailer. Postcards, on the other hand, are not secure enough and should not contain your patient's medical records. For both types of mail, you can choose either a postcard or a letter envelope, as long as you include the patient's name and delivery address. Postcards are not secure enough and look unprofessional. A recent case involving an insurer revealed that it sent pharmacy benefit change communications to its members that included a member's health condition. In an effort to protect the member's privacy, the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces HIPAA, ruled that the insurer had violated HIPAA by mailing the members' medical records without any reasonable safeguards. The case was settled in 2018. Mailing reminders to patients may be permitted as long as the provider uses a closed envelope to protect the patient's identity.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |