Posted by stjames on January 29, 2003, at 13:32:33
In reply to Medical records privacy, posted by agencypanic on January 28, 2003, at 15:44:20
I guess few read this HMO policy. The HMO can share you file with the HMO network:
Access to Your Medical RecordsUnlike your credit report, you cannot assume that your medical records are yours and that you will be automatically granted access to your files. Health care professionals and institutions are supposed to allow patients to review their own records for a minimal processing fee. But that is up to the discretion of the care provider. If it is believed the information contained in the files will be detrimental to you (especially if you are a mental health patient), the records will only be released to your physician.
Aside from personal health professionals and hospital facilities, these entities may be keeping, accessing and sharing your "classified" medical files:
Employers -- Bound by a federal law known as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers cannot ask applicants to divulge medical information or require them to take medical exams prior to offering employment. However, employers who provide medical insurance for their employees can ask insurance companies for copies of their employees' medical records. Many large corporations are also self-insured, which means they maintain their own databases of employee medical records.
Government agencies -- When you file claims for Medicare, MediCal, Worker Compensation, or Social Security Disability, the respective government entities involved will require copies of your medical records for review.
Health and life insurance companies -- They require that you release your medical records for them to process your policy application or adjustment.
HMOs -- Third party health maintenance organizations, which offer lower out-of-pocket health care costs, are composed of networks of health professionals and hospitals that must share your medical records to optimize service.
Law enforcement agencies -- In their efforts to search for clues, investigate fraud or solve crime, the police and other law enforcement authorities can gain access to databases of medical records. If a medical record becomes essential in a court case, relevant portions of the file may be subpoenaed for presentation.
The Medical Information Bureau -- This huge database of medical files is shared by more than 750 insurance companies. When an insurance company gathers medical information about you, and each time you file for a claim, chances are the information reaches the MIB and becomes accessible to all the member companies.
I guess few actually read their HMO policy.
You HMO CAN shard your file with other HMO network members:
Pharmaceutical companies -- Through casual data gathering methods like informal surveys or marketing gimmicks that encourage disclosure of otherwise private medical information, these drug manufacturers build and maintain files of individuals who may be potential customers. Sometimes the information comes from health care providers that rent, share or sell patient profiles
poster:stjames
thread:35878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030120/msgs/35917.html