If a patient submits a written request to amend their record and the provider denies it, what may occur?

If a patient submits a written request to amend their record and the provider denies it, what may occur?

• A. The provider may deny or approve with justification.
• B. The amendment is automatically added to the record.
• C. The patient can appeal to a medical board.
• D. The request is ignored.

Answer: (B)

When a patient asks to amend their health record and the provider denies, the provider may deny or approve with justification. If the decision is to deny, a written explanation must accompany the denial, and the patient can submit a statement of disagreement to be attached to the record and included with any future disclosures. The amendment does not automatically become part of the record just because the request was made. If the patient believes the denial is improper, they can pursue a formal review or file a complaint with the appropriate privacy regulator (such as OCR under HIPAA or the state privacy authority) for further action.

When a patient asks to amend their health record and the provider denies, the provider may deny or approve with justification. If the decision is to deny, a written explanation must accompany the denial, and the patient can submit a statement of disagreement to be attached to the record and included with any future disclosures. The amendment does not automatically become part of the record just because the request was made. If the patient believes the denial is improper, they can pursue a formal review or file a complaint with the appropriate privacy regulator (such as OCR under HIPAA or the state privacy authority) for further action.