Comments on: Hostile HIPAA

By: Fat Doctor

Fat Doctor — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:01:07 +0000

This is so true. I asked a nurse if she could just give the patient a copy of his labs to take to his PCP. HIPAA no-no, I was told. The request had to go through medical records. Disgusted, I printed out a copy and handed it to the patient, right in front of the nurse. HIPAA be damned!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:39:18 +0000

It is funny, not ha ha ha funny, to see other people encounter this problem. It is very important to have your own medical records these days, more than people in general know.

If I am hospitalized I go to the facility and get my records the day I leave (if possible). When I have an MRI or CT, I ask the technician to run my a copy on CD while I am there. I put my fax number on all labwork slips, but usually have to jump through hoops to get the results even though the facility doesn’t know it is my own fax number and not the doctors. Eight out of 10 times the results are not sent. I imagine that it happens regularly and people just don’t know that the results weren’t sent. Crazy stuff.

By: Couch Pundit

Couch Pundit — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:56:58 +0000

That reminds me of Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil” I can’t believe how they were so happy to spend time and effort to send you endless amounts printed materials citing of the reasons why they couldn’t send you the record for slightly less than $42.50.

“I hereby inform you under powers entrusted to me under Section 476 that Mr. Buttle, Archibald, residing at 412 North Tower, Shangri La Towers, has been invited to assist the Ministry of Information with certain inquiries and that he is liable to certain financial obligations as specified in Council Order RB-stroke-C-Z-stroke-nine-O-seven-stroke-X.

That is your receipt for your husband. Thank you. (He takes back his pen.) And this is my receipt for your receipt.”

By: Celeste

Celeste — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:18:00 +0000

Sorry for the go-round you had with THAT EPIC LOSER, but how cool that your actual doctor made it happen for you. You just know that little twit on the phone prides herself on how well she does her job…her petty, stupid little job.

By: dragonfly

dragonfly — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:48:41 +0000

Good grief. I could see myself getting MUY frustrated with that. So you are still in Mexico with your family? What are you doing there?

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:24:40 +0000

And you kept your cool through all that? That’s more than I would have been able to do! : 0

By: Karl

Karl — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:56:00 +0000

Yeah, the entire medical records access system is totally confused now. Its been
coopted by the Hospital industry to charge absurd “processing” fees, it creates legal issues when you try to access records across State lines or from Federal jurisdiction, State Laws contradict Federal ones….just a confusing mess and now people are getting venal about it. Just one more thing that badly needs fixing. This was
all created, as you say, to give the patient control over their records ie. any number of times as a Resident they would repeatedly emphasize how “its the patient that owns their medical records not the Hospital”. But, we’re not really seeing that now…frustrating.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:03:06 +0000

I’ve dealt with the same issue for several years during my Cushing’s testing, diagnosis, surgery, and aftercare. I had to work with my doctors to fix this.

Now, every form that is filled out by me and my endocrinologist includes my fax number so that all reports will be faxed to me, also. Frankly, I doubt most places realize that fax number is not his. They don’t seem to mind if there are two fax numbers. Most things he can get via the internet/digitally so the fax is redundant anyhow.

Oh, something we’ve found out in the Cushing’s community is that if a state law is more protective of the patient, then it takes precedence over HIPAA. This can sometimes cause major problems getting information. And if one’s doctor is in one state and one lives in another state, it then becomes tougher. But we’ve learned how to circumvent it and what wording to use to get our own records.

Most of all, thank you for sharing your story. I can empathize, and I appreciate it. I’m sorry you are ill, and I wish you the best.