| Don't you just love government red tape? This time | | | | institutions however, little has changed. HIPPA merely |
| the bureaucratic process has given us a real | | | | brings some conformity to how they've always |
| doozy-it's called the Health Insurance Portability and | | | | handled privacy matters. |
| Accountability Act or HIPAA for short. And the | | | | There are other scenarios in which these regulations |
| unintended affects of HIPPA could have a dramatic | | | | could impact you. For instance, let's say that you |
| effect on you. | | | | have a 19-year old child attending college who is |
| HIPAA legislation took effect in April of 2001. It set | | | | involved in an activity that resulted in their need for |
| national standards for the protection of 'individually | | | | medical care. Since a 19-year old is considered an |
| identifiable health information.' Specifically, the Rule | | | | adult, they would have the power to keep you from |
| relates to how health care organizations share and | | | | being told of their medical condition or even |
| divulge medical information. | | | | contacted. |
| There are good reasons for these new protections. | | | | Even though their medical bills might be covered |
| They are designed to prevent unauthorized invasions | | | | under your insurance plan, you would not be privy to |
| into your medical privacy. | | | | any of the medical information. In fact, you might be |
| If you've ever received a letter from a drug | | | | prevented from even visiting them if they indicate to |
| company marketing their solution to one of your | | | | the hospital that they don't want visitors. One |
| ailments, chances are the information was purchased | | | | hospital we spoke with said hospital security guards |
| from your pharmacy making them aware of your | | | | would prevent such visits when requested by the |
| condition. The new HIPAA regulations are designed to | | | | patient. |
| prevent this and other unauthorized releases of your | | | | HIPAA impacts the sharing of information if you are |
| medical information. | | | | single or in a non-traditional relationship. |
| Basically, health care providers now must have your | | | | Nowadays, many older couples forgo marriage and |
| written permission before they can release any of | | | | live together for financial reasons. Same-sex |
| your medical information to anyone else. This can | | | | relationships are more common. You may be a |
| cause some very awkward situations. | | | | widow or widower. In any of these situations, |
| For instance, one man's wife recently went to the | | | | medical providers are no longer required to provide |
| doctor. The doctor sent her to the hospital for some | | | | information to others without proper authorization. It |
| tests. The hospital in turn admitted her. She was | | | | is important that those in these situations have the |
| unable to contact her husband, and after several | | | | proper documents in place that would allow someone |
| hours, he tried to find out where she was and how | | | | else to make medical decisions if you are unable. |
| she was doing. But neither the doctor's office nor the | | | | So what can you do? First, pay attention to the |
| hospital would provide him any information. | | | | forms you fill out that authorize the health care |
| In fact, the doctor's office wouldn't even tell him | | | | provider to release your information. It is important |
| what hospital they sent her to or that she had been | | | | that you list those that you would want to know |
| admitted. He had to call all of the local hospitals in his | | | | about your condition. |
| area to try to locate her. The hospitals wouldn't tell | | | | Secondly, it is vital that you have a Medical Power of |
| him anything either! Only after hours of frantically | | | | Attorney in place which names the person (and |
| searching for his wife was he able to convince the | | | | alternates) authorized to make medical decisions on |
| doctor's office to at least tell him what hospital she | | | | your behalf should you be incapacitated. Forms |
| was in. | | | | granting the release of medical information don't |
| The problem is that HIPPA regulations are being | | | | provide for someone to make decisions on your |
| applied differently from place to place. While HIPAA | | | | behalf. |
| regulations do permit the release of general | | | | Lastly, you may want to add a HIPAA release |
| information, some organizations take the safest | | | | authorization to existing estate planning documents |
| route for them and won't release any information | | | | such as trusts, living wills and powers of attorney. |
| unless specifically authorized by the patient. At other | | | | |