Some of our most personal information can be found in our medical records, including notes taken by psychologists and genetic data, which is why it is considered confidential and restricted. Generally, a person's medical records are available only to the patient (or parents, if a minor) and the care providers and administrators authorized to access these records for legitimate purposes, such as billing. Patients may authorize the release of their own medical records, which is important when filing injury claims or submitting information to one's employer for workers' compensation purposes.
The federal government provides privacy protections through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), while state laws often provide additional protections.
Medical Records Laws In Kansas
Kansas laws concerning medical records privacy are very similar to those of other states, requiring written authorization for third-party access and communicable disease reporting requirements for certain professions.
Additional details of Kansas medical records laws are listed in the following chart. See FindLaw's Patient Rights section for related articles.
| Who Has Access to Records? | Authoritized caregivers, patient, patient's parents (if a minor) |
| What Privileges Apply to Medical Records? | Doctor-patient (with exceptions) (§60-427); Psychologist-patient (§74-5323) |
| Mandatory Reporting Requirements | Any physician or lab director with knowledge of AIDS sufferer must report to secretary of health and environment; information shall be confidential and disclosed as per §65-6002 (c) |
| Patient Consent and Waiver | Patients can consent to share their medical records with third parties. However, the medical provider can’t provide them to the third party without a written authorization or waiver form on file. |
| Insurance Companies | - |
| Provisions Related to HIV/AIDS | Any physician or lab director with knowledge of AIDS sufferer must report to secretary of health and environment; information shall be confidential and disclosed as per §65-6002 (c) |
Note: State laws are always subject to change, usually through changes in legislation with plenty of notice, but sometimes through higher court decisions or other means. You should contact a Kansas health care attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law
Kansas Medical Records Laws: Related Resources
