In 1988, the Access to Medical Reports Act was implemented to give customers access to medical information provided to insurers and employers. Some years later, in 2017, we worked with the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to develop principles for applying the agreement to electronic reports. Many insurers and GP practices have since moved away from paper reporting to electronic reporting, but some on both sides still have not.
We continue to look for ways to improve the process for sharing information, in a secure and efficient way. For example, when considering how improvements can be made in the digital age, we commissioned a survey of over 300 GPs and practice managers through GP Online.
Our survey found that
79%
of respondents who use electronic systems for insurer reports said it reduces administrative burden.
83%
of the same group said speed is a benefit.
Whilst GP practices have competing demands on their budgets,
only 2%
of respondents who currently use the software said it could be improved financially.
Conversely,
nearly 33%
of the respondents who don’t yet use the software said they would need more information before considering it.
Over
25%
of those who do use it also said they still receive some paper requests from insurers.
We continue to talk to our members and external stakeholders to explore how the process can be improved for the patient/customer, health service and insurers.
Resources
Discover our guides, reports, free-to-use tools and download our data release schedule
FAQs
What is the Access to Medical Reports Act (AMRA)?
The AMRA allows insurers to request medical information from GPs with a customer's consent. This information is used in the underwriting process to assess health risks.
What are the benefits of using electronic medical reports?
Electronic medical reports speed up the process, reduce the administrative burden on GPs, and ensure data is transferred securely, helping insurers make faster decisions.
How can customers access their medical reports?
Under the AMRA, customers can access the medical information provided to insurers and request a copy of the report from their GP before it is sent to the insurer.
