Discover your rights under U.S. law to access and control your healthcare information, including key rules in the 21st Century Cures Act.

Do you know there is a file on you and your healthcare, including nearly every note, test result, diagnosis—it’s all there, sitting in your medical record. You probably haven’t ever really seen what is inside your medical record because up until only a few years ago, you didn’t have the right to see it. Now, you have the right to access every word, every detail about your healthcare, yet so many people don’t know they can. Even more surprising? There’s information in your medical record that could be essential to your health, or even life-saving.

Thanks to new laws like the 21st Century Cures Act & The HIPAA Access Right, it’s now illegal for doctors and hospitals to withhold this information from you. This is about your freedom to know what they say about your body, your right to understand your own health like never before. If you’ve ever wondered, “What exactly are my doctors saying about me?” this is your chance to find out.

Your Health Information is Yours—Here’s Why You Need to Claim It Now

1. The Freedom to Know Every Detail About Your Health

  • Why This Matters: This isn’t just a casual right—it’s a powerful one. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you’re legally entitled to see your complete medical records, but until now, access was often limited or delayed.
  • No More Waiting or Guessing: Gone are the days when you had to wait for test results or trust doctors to pass along the details. With new regulations in place, you can see everything directly—no restrictions, no secrets, just full access to your own health information.

2. The 21st Century Cures Act: Opening the Door to Transparency

  • Why This Law is Groundbreaking: Passed in 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act was designed to put patients in control by making sure all your health information is readily available to you, electronically, right at your fingertips. As the OpenNotes Initiative points out, this includes lab results, doctors’ notes, treatment plans—things you might never have seen before.
  • The Power of Information: The Cures Act gives you the right to review every detail. What was written in your last appointment notes? Is there a diagnosis that wasn’t discussed? Are there treatment options you weren’t informed about? Now, you can find out.

3. The Information Blocking Rule: No More Secrets, No More Excuses

  • What is Information Blocking?: Information blocking is when healthcare providers withhold or delay access to your records. It was common practice for years, leaving patients in the dark about their own health. But the Information Blocking Rule, which came into effect in 2021, changed the game.
  • How It Protects You: Under this rule, healthcare providers can no longer block or delay your access to information without a valid reason. If you want to see something in your record, they have to provide it—no more excuses. As the Health API Guy explains in his article, The Gang Explains Information Blocking: HIPAA, this extends past billing records to include your comprehensive healthcare record. Included are:
    • Medical records
    • Billing and payment records
    • Insurance information
    • Clinical laboratory test reports
    • X-rays
    • Wellness and disease management program information
    • Notes (aside from behavioral health)

This is your health, and it’s your right to know everything, not just the amount owed.

Why You Need Your Records Now—It Could Save Your Life

This isn’t just about curiosity. As we mentioned previously in Your Health Data in One Place: Why It’s a Game-Changer, knowing what’s in your medical records can be a matter of life and death. Here’s why:

  • Spot Errors Before They Cost You: Sometimes, records contain mistakes—wrong medications, missed allergies, or incomplete histories. These errors can lead to serious health risks. When you review your records, you can catch these errors before they impact your care.
  • Understand What’s Not Being Said: Doctors are only human, and sometimes, things get missed. Maybe there’s a diagnosis you weren’t told about, or a treatment option wasn’t fully explained. This is your opportunity to know exactly what’s going on and make informed choices.
  • Take Action Faster: When you have access to every note, test result, and recommendation, you don’t have to wait for answers. You can take action immediately, whether that means scheduling a follow-up, getting a second opinion, or discussing new options with your doctor.

How to Access Your Health Information and Take Control

Ready to take back control? As we wrote about previously in Tired of the Healthcare Shuffle? How to Easily Manage Your Care, here’s how you can access your information quickly and easily:

1. Log into Your Patient Portals

  • What They Are: Most hospitals and doctors now have online patient portals where you can log in and view your records, test results, and notes.
  • Why You Need This: Log in regularly to keep up with your information. After every appointment, check the portal for updates. This is your health story—read every chapter.

2. Use Selfii to Gather Your Comprehensive Healthcare Records

  • What Selfii Offers: Selfii lets you pull all your health records into one easy-to-use service, so you don’t have to juggle multiple portals. You get a complete, organized view of your health, with the power to share any information you need, whenever you need it.
  • Why It’s Important: With Selfii, you’re not just reviewing your records; you’re controlling them. All your notes, lab results, and treatment plans are right there, giving you the freedom to know every aspect of your health journey.

3. Request Paper Records if You Prefer

  • How to Do It: If you’re not comfortable with digital options, you can request paper copies. Every doctor’s office is legally required to provide your records within 30 days.
  • What to Look For: Ask for everything, from diagnoses to treatment plans. Go through your records carefully—you deserve to know every detail about your health.

What Are They Saying About You? Find Out Today

The right to your health information isn’t just a convenience; it’s a revelation. For years, the healthcare system kept patients in the dark, holding information back, sharing only bits and pieces. But now, the doors are open, and it’s up to you to walk through.

What’s in your records? Are there things you haven’t been told? Are there options you didn’t know you had? Don’t wait for someone else to decide what you should know about your own health. Log in, request your records, use tools like Selfii, and take control of the story that’s rightfully yours.

This is your chance to be informed, empowered, and ready to act. Don’t let anyone keep you in the dark. Access your health records today, take a look at what’s inside, and become fully informed about your own health journey.