Patients have often struggled to get access to the results of laboratory tests. Ideally, the doctor who orders the test informs the patient promptly of the result and its implications, but a certain number of lab tests tend to fall through the cracks.
In a new ruling, the Department of Health and Human Services determined that patients have the right to get their own test results directly from the laboratory without the necessity of going through the physician as an intermediary. HHS Secretary Sebelius said, “Information like lab results can empower patients to track their health progress, make decisions with their health care professionals, and adhere to important treatment plans.” The laboratory must provide results within 30 days of the request.
Offering patients direct access to test results should improve transparency, but it also calls for clear communication between health care providers and their patients to interpret the significance of the reports.
