Guide · 45 CFR § 164.526
How to fix an error in your medical records
A wrong allergy, a diagnosis that isn't yours, a medication you never took — errors in a medical record can follow you into future care. HIPAA gives you a specific right to fix them: the right to amend, at 45 CFR § 164.526. Here's how to use it.
The steps, in order
1. Put your request in writing
Identify the specific record and exactly what is wrong or incomplete, and state the correction you want. A clear, written request is what triggers the provider's legal duty to respond.
2. Send it to the provider that created the record
Address it to the records or Health Information Management (HIM) department of the provider who holds it. You generally ask the source of the record, not a later provider who merely received a copy.
3. Expect a response within 60 days
The provider must act on your amendment request within 60 days. It may take a single 30-day extension only if it gives you a written reason and a completion date within that first period.
4. If accepted: the record is corrected
The provider updates the record and must make reasonable efforts to share the correction with others who received the mistaken information and may rely on it.
5. If denied: file a statement of disagreement
A provider can deny a request (for example, if it didn't create the record or believes it's accurate), but it must explain why. You can then submit a written 'statement of disagreement,' which becomes part of your record and travels with it.
You'll need a copy in hand to spot what to fix. The finder shows you where to ask.
Common questions
Can a provider refuse to change my record?
Yes, in limited cases — for instance, if the provider didn't create the entry, it isn't part of the designated record set, or the provider determines it's already accurate and complete. But a denial must be in writing with a reason, and you have the right to add a statement of disagreement. Source: HHS; 45 CFR 164.526.
Will they delete the original entry?
No. An amendment adds a correction; the original entry generally isn't erased, because the medical record is a legal history of your care. What changes is that the accurate information is now attached and follows the record. Source: HHS.
Source: 45 CFR § 164.526, amendment of protected health information. General information, not legal advice; some timelines and processes vary by provider and state. Last reviewed: August 12, 2026.