Atrium Health reverses decision on parental access to children’s prescriptions

Atrium Health has reversed a new policy it recently implemented that would block parents from having access to their children’s prescription records. 

The policy, which took effect on Nov. 1, denied parents of children ages 12-17 access to their child’s prescriptions on CarolinaCARE, a home-delivery pharmacy service available to Atrium Health employees and their family members enrolled in the Atrium Health LiveWELL and Blue Ridge Healthcare health plans. 

Last month, Atrium said in a letter to parents that they were making the change because they need to remain compliant with laws in all of the states that CarolinaCARE serves and that those states have varying laws regarding access to health information, including prescriptions.

The letter stated, “The laws are intended to allow minors to receive prescription medication for sensitive issues without worrying about how their parents may react. This may include treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and other diseases that must be reported to the state; pregnancy, drug or alcohol abuse; and mental health. We protect the privacy of the minor and follow state law by limiting access to the child’s CarolinaCARE record.”