{"ref":"GA-HH-REC-02","title":"Patient Access to Records, Copies, and Release of Information","category":"Records","summary":"Sets out how patients, their representatives, and others ask for and receive copies of the clinical record and other health information: the HIPAA right of access, the Georgia 30-day rule and fee limits in O.C.G.A. §§31-33-2 and 31-33-3, the free copy within 4 business days for a Medicare-certified agency, deceased patients, refusals on health grounds, and written authorization for every release the law does not otherwise allow.","inShort":["Patients have the right to see and get a copy of their own record. If a patient asks you, write it down and send it to the office the same day.","Do not hand over records or copies yourself. The office checks who is asking and sends the copy on time.","If our Agency is Medicare-certified, the patient gets the copy free at the next visit or within 4 business days, whichever is first.","We release information to anyone else only with the patient’s written consent or when the law allows it.","Send any request from a lawyer, insurer, police officer, or family member to the office."],"primaryCitation":"O.C.G.A. §31-33-2","citations":["O.C.G.A. §31-33-2","O.C.G.A. §31-33-3","Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 111-8-31-.09(f)"],"federalCitations":["42 CFR §484.110(e)","42 CFR §484.50(c)(6)","45 CFR §164.524","45 CFR §164.508","45 CFR §164.530"],"surveyorAsks":["A patient asked for a copy of her record last month. Show me the request, the date you received it, and the date you provided it.","If you are Medicare-certified, how do you make the record available free of charge at the next home visit or within 4 business days?"],"forms":[{"ref":"GA-HH-REC-02-A","title":"Authorization to Release Health Information"}],"headings":["Terms of Reference","1. Purpose","2. Scope","3. Definitions","4. Policy Statement (O.C.G.A. §31-33-2; 45 CFR §164.524; 42 CFR §484.110(e))","5. Requests by the Patient or Personal Representative","6. Fees","7. Deceased Patients","8. Refusal on Health Grounds","9. Release to Others","10. Procedure","11. Responsibilities","12. Records and Compliance Monitoring","13. Staff Training","14. References","15. Related Policies and Forms","16. Approval","17. Revision History"],"version":"1.0","sample":false,"pack":"ga-hha","state":"Georgia","service":"Home health","guides":[{"path":"/guides/home-health-agency-policies/","h1":"What policies and procedures are required for home health agencies?"},{"path":"/guides/home-health-conditions-of-participation/","h1":"Home health Conditions of Participation: which policies each one needs"}],"agency":{"name":"Sample Agency","legalName":"Sample Agency, LLC","logo":null}}