Jul 27, 2017
What does HIPAA mean? Why does it seem to be implemented differently at each medical office you go to? Can they refuse to give you your medical information in a timely manner? What MUST they give you and when? Can you be charged to get it? What can a medical provider never do with your medical information?
I caregive for my mom and am in doctor's offices and hospitals
frequently. I am appalled by the documents I am required to sign
and how they vary from one office to another. It is also a problem
of staff training.
I recently was asked to sign a form that would give permission for
the office to give out my contact info and other information to
essentially anyone they wanted (3rd party affiliates, doctors,
billing companies and others was the phrasing). They grouped the
doctor under there and said if we do not sign the doctor cannot
call me even about results and the staff cannot call me about
appointments.
Is that allowed?
My guest helped draft the law that became HIPAA here in the United States and is the leading expert on its implementation for both medical practitioners and those Business Associates that do business with them.
If you have medical data then you will want to listen to this episode and understand your rights and what you need to do to make sure you can access your data when and where you need it.
Roger Wernow is the President of RMW Associates, a technology-oriented management consulting company specializing in health care practice management since 1985. The company focuses on assisting healthcare providers to modernize operations, select and implement EHR and practice management systems while complying with Medicare and HIPAA regulations.
Mr. Wernow was a founding board member and co-chair of the Sharp Work Group (a 2000 partnership of private industry and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services charged with development and implementation of the HIPAA regulations).
He is a frequent speaker to Medical Societies and industry groups on EHR selection and implementation issues, HIPAA privacy and security, the HITECH act and most recently MACRA/MIPS effects on healthcare entities. Prior to RMW, he served as a Manager of International Systems Consulting for PepsiCo International and as a Financial Analyst for CIT Financial.