WEDNESDAY,APRIL16.2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Law regulates medical records
By Nikki Overfelt
noverfelt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students can expect to do a little extra reading and writing the next time they go to the doctor or get a prescription.
Starting Monday, all medical patients now have to read a notice about their right to medical privacy and sign a form giving consent to their doctor to use their records for medical purposes.
These new regulations are mandated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
"A large part of HIPAA is to let people feel better informed and let them know really what their rights are," said Carol Seager, director of administration at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Although the legislation is just taking effect, most health care providers have been operating by most of these standards already, including Watkins, Seager said. In the past, medical privacy standards were handled by states, but this federal legislation will even out the standards for all states, she said.
"For us, here, there really isn't a lot of change," she said.
The notice of privacy practices that will be given to patients informs them of the their rights regarding their medical information. These rights include:
■ the right to inspect and copy medical or billing records
the right to amend records if the patient thinks they contain errors or are incomplete
- can errors or are incomplete
- the right to accounting and
disclosures of who has seen the patient's records
the right to request viewing restrictions
the right to request confidential communications
the right to a paper copy of the notice
The only new additions with HIPAA are the right to amend and the right to an accounting of record disclosures, she said.
The notice also explains what a health care provider can use a patients' records for with given consent, Seager said. Those uses are treatment, payment and health care operations, she said.
All patients will only have to sign the form once per health care provider, Seager said.
Mike Johnson. Lawrence senior, is experiencing the effects of HIPAA first hand. Johnson delivers prescriptions to elderly people for Jayhawk Pharmacy.
Johnson has to give the patients the form that Watkins has that explains their privacy rights. For example, the pharmacy can't disclose the medicine they are taking or their condition, he said. Then they have to sign the form before giving them their prescription.
"I had to try and explain to old people that they aren't signing away their life," he said.
Johnson said he knew it would get better because patients only had to sign the form once, he said. But for now he has to keep explaining medical privacy rights to patients as he delivers their prescriptions.
"It's making my day a lot longer," he said.
Edited by Michelle Burhenn
Recognition night honors women
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Mary Lee Hummert, interim vice provost of student support (right), receives one of the University of Kansas Women's Hall of Fame awards from Fouzia Haq, Kansas City, Mo., senior. Hummert was one of the women honored at the Women's Recognition Program yesterday at the Big 12 room in the Kansas Union.
Pilar Pena/Kansan
Women leaders at the University of Kansas have something in common with astronaut Neil Armstrong, said U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson at a Women's Recognition Program last night.
Both have made a lasting impression that inspire future leaders.
Robinson used the comparison of Armstrong's footprints on the moon, which will remain imprinted in lunar soil for millions of years, to describe the women's impact on the University and the community.
The annual ceremony, hosted by members of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, honored more than 30 women for their contributions to the University and the Lawrence community.
Five women, who were KU graduates or faculty or staff members, were inducted into the KU Women's Hall of Fame, a tradition that began in 1970.
One of the Hall of Fame inductees, Mary Lee Hummert, interim vice provost of student support, said she thought the excellence of women at the University created a legacy.
"I believe that the footsteps we are making here today will make it easier for others to accomplish what we have not yet been able to accomplish," she said.
The ceremony recognized stu
The University's legacy of women leaders dates back to 1873, when Flora Richardson became the first female graduate from the University.
Richardson, who died in 1924, received an award last night for being an outstanding pioneer woman.
dents in many categories, including community living organizations, community service, athletics and international and nontraditional students.
An eight-member selection committee composed of student leaders across campus reviewed the application and recommendation letters of each woman nominated for the award.
Fouzia Haq, president of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is run through the
"It shows the high standard set and the high caliber of undergraduate women at KU who do a lot that goes unrecognized." Sellers said.
Amber Sellers. Wichita senior who is a representative for the National Panhellenic Council at the University and a selection committee member, said deciding on award recipients was difficult.
"I believe that the footsteps we are making here today will make it easier for others to accomplish what we have not yet been able to accomplish."
Mary Lee Hummert interim vice provost of student support
Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, received the award for outstanding student leadership. Haq, Kansas City, Mo., senior, said she appreciated the award more because of her previous involvement as a selection committee member.
"Since I've played an active role in the commission, it's different receiving this award because I truly know how phenomenal it is," she said. "There are so many
2003 INDUCTEES
TO THE KU WOMEN'S
HALL OF FAME
Joyce Castle, professor of music and dance
Mary Lee Hummert, interim vice provost of student support
Martha Langley, finance director of Hilltop Child Development Center
Toni-Marie Montgomery, dean of the School of Fine Arts
Cora Lee Price, assistant professor emerita of classics
amazing women on campus. There has never been an application we get where a woman is not qualified."
About six past inductees of the KU Women's Hall of Fame came to this year's ceremony.
— Edited by Leah Shaffer
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