Policy Letters
Doctors Share Health Data Electronically Under HIPAA, and Sharing With Patients and their Third-Party Health Apps is Consistent
Authors: Savage M, Savage LC
Published: September 2020
Since 2000, federal regulations have affirmed that patients have a right to a complete copy of their health records from their physicians and hospitals. Today, providers across the nation use electronic health records and electronic information exchange for health care, and patients are choosing digital health apps to help them manage their own health and health information. Some doctors and health systems have voiced concern about whether they may transmit a patient’s data upon the patient’s request to the patient or the patient’s health app.