Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2016
This bill amends the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to allow a health care clearinghouse to use and disclose protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The uses and disclosures include for: (1) research purposes, (2) public health purposes, and (3) releasing protected health information to individuals that request their information.
Additionally, a clearinghouse may use and disclose protected health information to prepare and distribute reports that are designed to improve healthcare, subject to certain privacy protections.