My fiance suggested I try her dentist. My fiance told the Dentist office where I worked. They then began telling her the names of some of my co-workers who also come to their office. The Dentist office proceeds to look at what my co-worker's chart to see how much and what would be covered under my insurance. Would this be some sort of HIPPA violation? If so, what do I need to do to report this abuse? Thanks in advance for any help and direction.
2006-11-13 06:09:07 · 9 answers · asked by markWhitacre 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I don't see this as abuse. Why would you feel the need to report them? There is no breach of confidence.
2006-11-13 06:11:33 · answer #1 · answered by pinkzebra 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe a tiny violation because the dentist really shouldn't give you ANY information about another patient. Might get a reprimand at worst.
But it sounds like all that you found out was that some of your co-workers were patients. So it is probably not a big deal - unless the dentist communicated some protected information about the patient to you
2006-11-13 06:15:14 · answer #2 · answered by BigD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be - it actually depends on if that particular practice need to follow the hipaa laws and what specific information is relayed. Technically it is not illegal to state other patients' names, especially i f those patients have signed a form allowing the reasonable sharing of information. Names are not necessarily considered confidential - now if they said that Mr. Smith was in here last week for a root canal... then that's a different story .
You can report this to your insurance company as well as the government.
here's a link with more info:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf
2006-11-13 06:16:07 · answer #3 · answered by sparky39fire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The HIPPA law refers to any care that ppl are recieving. If they would've shared anything that your co workers diagnoses' or treatments they have recieved, things like that-then I believe it would've been a violation. In order for them to share any treatment, diagnoses', etc, the patient has to sign a release form. As long as they don't actually share any information about what the individual is being treated for then i don't think it is a violation.
2006-11-13 06:18:13 · answer #4 · answered by stazia81 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
as far as i know it is not. They did not give out specifics about their care or anything confedtional. They checked the chart and did not show it to you. I have been through HIPPA training many times and it sounds ok to me. Personally in their place i would of never done that though
2006-11-13 06:12:46 · answer #5 · answered by Big Daddy R 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They have violated the new privacy law.Contact the BBB and inform your co-workers about this since it's also their privacy being violated.
2006-11-13 06:17:02 · answer #6 · answered by hippiegirl672003 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It could be check out this website.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
2006-11-13 06:42:13 · answer #7 · answered by hotel154 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is very likely.
2006-11-13 06:12:42 · answer #8 · answered by profile image 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No.
2006-11-13 06:16:12 · answer #9 · answered by robert m 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋