Answers > How Can I Apply With HIPAA, to Have a Medical Misdiagnosis Changed, on My Medical Records?

Swabbie December 13, 2010 at 8:56 pm

First of all, are you sure that it was an actual misdiagnosis rather than a previous impression??

You cannot have a former (wrong or right) diagnosis “deleted,” rather, a new note or a new history and physical will be written by the doctor, ststing that the former diagnosis was either wrong, mis-stated, or disproven, and a new diagnosis will be provided.

If this is from a former hospitalization, a new history and physical would be needed for e new admission, anyway. If you are currently hospitalized, what I wrote above will still apply. if you were still treated for the wrong diagnosis, your insurance will probably still be billed and coded for it. That may not be able to be changed!! You can contact your insurance for their policy about that.

Ann Cirrus December 13, 2010 at 9:22 pm

You don’t have to go thru HIPAA. HIPAA is a piece of legislation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. I’m not sure why you are concerned about a previous misdiagnosis, unless perhaps it is affecting your ability to purchase health and/or life insurance. Simply go to your own private doctor (who should be aware of the misdiagnosis) and ask him/her to be sure to include the records of the misdiagnosis, the reason for the misdiagnosis, and your new diagnosis in your medical file. Any changes to your medical records must be done thru a physician.