Wellness

[goodstuff]

Having worked for several years as a medical assistant, I learned that different medical practices have different interpretations of HIPAA guidelines, and some are more strict than others in giving out information to family members, especially when they know the families well. However, technically a medical practice shouldn't give information about a patient or discuss his case unless they have a written, signed release from the patient giving them permission to do so.

[ChynnaBlue]

On 2/1/2014 hckynut said:

Your doctors or other health professionals that have treated you ask:

1)Is it ok to leave a voice mail message?

2)Is it ok to leave results of your test on voice mail?

3)Is it ok to leave results with spouse?

HIPPA is a joke and that can be seen by the hiring of Navigators for the "XX act", some of which have been found to be felons. Can't leave any information with your spouse, but it is ok to give ALL your medical information to a felon.

Once again, the law means that YOU can tell anyone you want about your medical history, but the doctors cannot without your permission. That's not a joke. If you're seeing it as joke because you're giving your information to someone else (someone you are not required to talk to, I might add), you're misunderstanding.

Furthermore, you don't give Navigators your health information. You're misinformed about that. Here's some information from Forbes, hardly a left-wing propaganda machine.

What information will a Navigator need from you?

To sign you up for coverage, the Navigator will need to determine a number of items:

1) The number of people in your family who need coverage

2) Income information on everyone in the family

3) Other sources of available coverage, such as through employment

Source article.

You may want to reconsider the sources you use for your news and information.

[sfnative]

On 2/7/2014 GoodStuff said:

Having worked for several years as a medical assistant, I learned that different medical practices have different interpretations of HIPAA guidelines, and some are more strict than others in giving out information to family members, especially when they know the families well. However, technically a medical practice shouldn't give information about a patient or discuss his case unless they have a written, signed release from the patient giving them permission to do so.

I'm going to jump all over this one like the other one.

EVERY physician's office is duty bound to present the following to all NEW and EXISTING patients ONCE per annum:

1. HIPAA policy. (If the docs and practice manager don't understand it, tell them to contact me. I'm now retired and work as a contractor. I'd be glad to create the appropriate documents for them.)

2. Patients Bill of Rights.

If the practice you work with isn't providing this service NOW for their patients, they are not in compliance with federal and probably state laws. This is nothing to joke about.

Who comes first in your practice? Sounds to me as though the docs come first. But you know what? That's the wrong answer. The PATIENTS come first. Always.

[goodstuff]

On 2/7/2014 sfnative said:

On 2/7/2014 GoodStuff said:

Having worked for several years as a medical assistant, I learned that different medical practices have different interpretations of HIPAA guidelines, and some are more strict than others in giving out information to family members, especially when they know the families well. However, technically a medical practice shouldn't give information about a patient or discuss his case unless they have a written, signed release from the patient giving them permission to do so.

I'm going to jump all over this one like the other one.

EVERY physician's office is duty bound to present the following to all NEW and EXISTING patients ONCE per annum:

1. HIPAA policy. (If the docs and practice manager don't understand it, tell them to contact me. I'm now retired and work as a contractor. I'd be glad to create the appropriate documents for them.)

2. Patients Bill of Rights.

If the practice you work with isn't providing this service NOW for their patients, they are not in compliance with federal and probably state laws. This is nothing to joke about.

Who comes first in your practice? Sounds to me as though the docs come first. But you know what? That's the wrong answer. The PATIENTS come first. Always.

Actually, I'm no longer working.......and the specialty practice where I worked was very strict and observant in following HIPAA guidelines and observing patient privacy. You are correct in your statements about HIPAA; however, in dealing with other practices and medical facilities when we or our patients had to request or deal with patient information and records, we encountered all sorts of variations in the way HIPAA was interpreted and observed. Right or wrong, so it was.....and I'm sure still is. Unfortunately, some practices, some doctors, some practice managers, some medical facility staff members are not particularly well informed about HIPAA guidelines.