New privacy rule would require providers to track patients' records better

The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing a new rule that would expand healthcare provider requirements for tracking patient health records and allowing patients greater access to them.

Patients have held rights to their records for numerous years, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded them — and closed an exception that said users of electronic health record systems did not have to track or account for disclosures of treatment, payment and other issues. Business associates of covered entities also are covered by the new accounting requirement, according to reports.

The new rule was sent to OMB by the Office for Civil Rights of The Department of Health and Human Services. It builds upon privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.