Your Health Information & the SHIN-NY
The SHIN-NY helps your healthcare providers share important health information — like your medications, test results, and medical history — securely and electronically. This means when you visit a new doctor, go to the emergency room, or see a specialist, they can access the information they need to give you the best care possible.
You have the right to:
- Know how your health information is shared through the SHIN-NY
- Make decisions about whether your information is shared electronically
- Change your consent decision at any time
- Request a copy of your health records
- Know who has accessed your information
Understanding Consent
New York State law gives you a say in whether your health information is shared electronically through the SHIN-NY. Your healthcare provider should explain your options and help you make an informed decision.
Read answers to commonly asked questions:
Your care continues as normal. Saying no means providers at that organization can’t view your health information through the SHIN-NY — they’ll rely on their own records and can still request records from other providers the traditional way, by phone or fax.
Only authorized individuals and organizations may access your information for approved purposes, such as treatment or care management. All access is subject to strict privacy, security, and oversight requirements. Employers, marketers, and unauthorized parties cannot access SHIN-NY data.
Yes, at any time, in either direction. Tell your healthcare provider or contact the SHIN-NY QE in your region, and your new decision replaces your old one going forward.
Your consent decision never affects your eligibility for care, your insurance, or how your providers treat you. It only affects whether providers can see your records through the SHIN-NY. Many patients consent because it helps in exactly the moments health records are hardest to gather, but the choice is yours and saying no carries no penalty.