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