Which aspect of the 2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rule expanded a patient's access to Protected Health Information?

The 2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rule indeed expanded a patient's rights regarding the amendment of their Protected Health Information (PHI). This was significant as it reinforced the rights of individuals to request amendments to their health records, ensuring that if they believe their information is inaccurate or incomplete, they have a formal mechanism to request changes.

Under prior regulations, patients had the ability to request amendments, but the Omnibus Rule heightened this right by ensuring that healthcare providers respond more thoroughly to these requests. This change acknowledges the importance of patient engagement in their healthcare and the accuracy of their medical records.

Expanding the rights for amendment supports patients’ involvement in their own health management and enhances the overall integrity and reliability of health information. By allowing patients to actively participate in correcting their records, the Omnibus Rule fosters greater accountability and transparency in health information management.

Strengthened limitations on marketing usage, increased penalties for non-compliance, and reduced reporting requirements do not directly address the patient’s access and rights concerning their PHI, which is why they do not represent the aspect of the Omnibus Rule that expands patient access particularly in the context of amending their information.