If a patient wants to amend his or her health record, what may the covered entity require?

When a patient wishes to amend their health record, covered entities may indeed require that the request for amendment be made in writing and that the patient provide a rationale for the amendment. This process is in place to ensure clarity and to document the reasons for any changes made to health records, helping to maintain accuracy and integrity.

Requiring a written request ensures that there is a formal record of what changes are being requested, while providing a rationale allows for evaluation of the validity and necessity of the amendment. This is particularly important for compliance with federal regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which outlines the rights of individuals to request amendments to their records while also requiring that the request be properly documented and authenticated.

Other options revolve around different processes that are not standard practice under HIPAA for amending records. For instance, needing permission from an attending physician or waiting a set period before considering a request is not typically required by regulations governing patient access and rights to their medical records. Additionally, a court order for amendments is not a standard requirement and typically pertains to different legal contexts.