We put a lot of trust in our doctors to give us the best medical advice. And in order for them to do so, we trust our doctors, and hospitals and other medical personal, with some very personal medical information. So what are the regulations regarding how our health information is stored and shared? And are there laws in the Nutmeg State that apply to doctors and hospitals to help keep our personal medical records safe and secure? Here is a basic overview of medical records laws in Connecticut.
Medical Records Laws
State medical records laws, along with some federal guidelines, govern the privacy protection of medical records. For the most part, your medical records are presumed to be confidential, and these statutes dictate whether doctors may share your medical information without your permission. Connecticut statutes limit access to medical records to the patient, aside from some in which medical professionals are required to report health information like certain communicable diseases and positive HIV tests.
Medical Records Laws in Connecticut
Medical records statutes in Connecticut are highlighted below.
| Who Has Access to Records? | General Statutes of Connecticut Title 4-105: Patient may see and copy; General Statutes of Connecticut Title 52-146h: State law limits disclosure of mental health data about a patient by name or other identifier; General Statutes of Connecticut Title 17b-225: state departments may receive information on patients only to the extent necessary to obtain support or payment for care of patient; all information is confidential |
| What Privileges Apply to Medical Records? | Physician (§52-146o) |
| Mandatory Reporting Requirements | Physician must report tuberculosis to Dept. of Public Health (§19a-262) |
| Patient Consent and Waiver | - |
| Insurance Companies | - |
| Provisions Related to HIV/AIDS | Results confidential except to exposed health care workers, or to mental health or prison facilities (§19a-583) |
Along with Connecticut’s state medical records laws, there are federal medical records protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA makes personal medical records strictly confidential, unless:
Connecticut Medical Records Laws: Related Resources
State and federal laws protecting the confidentiality of medical records can be complicated. You can contact a Connecticut health care attorney if you would like legal assistance regarding a health care issue. You can also visit FindLaw’s section on Health Care Law for more resources and information, including what you should do if you learn your medical records have improperly disclosed.
