Health Current is Arizona’s only health information organization (HIO). According to state law, Arizonans are afforded specific rights regarding the sharing of their information through an HIO, including:
- The right to opt-out of having their individually identified information securely shared through the HIO;
- The right to change their mind regarding an opt-out decision; and
- The right to opt-out of a particular healthcare provider sharing their health information through the HIO.
Arizona law also provides these rights to patients regarding their information that is available through an HIO:
- The right to ask for a copy of their health information that is available through the HIO;
- The right to request that incorrect health information about them be amended;
- The right to request a list of individuals who have viewed their information through the HIO for a period of at least 3 years before the patient’s request; and
- The right to be notified of a breach at the HIO that affects the patient’s individually identifiable health information.
Arizona law requires that once a provider begins to participate in an HIO, the provider put in place a process that notifies patients of their rights under Arizona law by providing a copy of the Notice of Health Information Practices in each patient encounter and by providing the Opt Out Change Form or Opt Back in Change Form that allows patient to execute their decision to “opt out” or “opt back in.” In other words, the only place where patients exercise their “opt out” or “opt back in” decisions is at their provider who is a participant in the HIO.