1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Patient Empowerment

10 Myths About HIPAA, Patients and Medical Records Privacy

By , About.com Guide

Updated March 15, 2009

4 of 10

Myth #4: HIPAA laws prevent doctors from exchanging email with their patients.

Not true, even if your doctor told you it's true. It's possible your provider will use HIPAA as an excuse, but HIPAA does not prohibit the use of email between doctors and patients.

HIPAA requires only that health information be safeguarded. However, like other aspects of this set of laws, this type of requirement is confusing to a provider, and therefore many will not use email at the risk of being in violation of the HIPAA regulations.

Explore Patient Empowerment
About.com Special Features

8 Ways to Cut Drug Costs

Learn how to save money on medications with these recommendations. More >

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Patient Empowerment
  4. Doctors and Providers
  5. Records, Codes, Privacy
  6. Myth 4 -- HIPAA laws prevent doctors from exchanging email with their patients.

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.