Healthcare groups opposing privacy rule changes

Major healthcare organizations are lining up against proposed changes to federal privacy rules that would make it easier for patients to see who has viewed their medical records.

The change to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) would allow patients to request physicians and hospitals to provide a log of those within the provider organization that have seen their records and give the reasons why. Those disclosures now are exempt from HIPAA reporting requirements.

Among the groups opposing greater patient access are the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, Healthcare Billing and Management Association, American Health Information Management Association, Medical Group Management Association, College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, and Association of American Medical