New rule gives patients access to lab test reports

Under a new rule issued last week by the Department of Health and Human Services, patients will have the right to access their medical lab reports directly from the lab that performed the testing, without having to go through the physician who ordered the test.

ACP was supportive of the proposed rule in the interest of increasing the transparency of a patient's health care information and allowing them increased control over their personal health information. The new rule takes effect on Oct. 6. Guidance on how it will work is available from the College online.