.........and here is the answer to the Hippa question:
Many people consider information about their health to be highly sensitive, deserving of the strongest protection under the law. Long-standing laws in many states and the age-old tradition of doctor-patient privilege have been the mainstay of privacy protection for decades.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets a national standard for privacy of health information. It was implemented in 2003. But HIPAA only applies to medical records maintained by health care providers, health plans, and health clearinghouses - and only if the facility conducts certain transactions electronically. A great deal of health-related information exists
outside of health care facilities and the files of health plans, and thus beyond the reach of HIPAA. (PRC
Fact Sheet 8a: HIPAA Basics)
The extent of privacy protection given to your medical information often depends on where the records are located and the purpose for which the information was compiled. The laws that cover privacy of medical information vary by situation. And, confidentiality is likely to be lost in return for insurance coverage, an employment opportunity, your application for a government benefit, or an investigation of health and safety at your work site.
In short, you may have a false sense of security. That’s because medical information that is collected outside a HIPAA environment may not afford you HIPAA’s basic privacy rights to (1) access your medical records (2) request an amendment to your records and (3) request an accounting of disclosures.This guide provides information on medical records
not covered by the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
Who has access to your medical records?Your medical information is shared by a wide range of people both in and out of the health care industry. Generally, access to your records is obtained when you agree to let others see them. In reality, you may have no choice but to agree to the sharing of your health information if you want to obtain care and qualify for insurance.
See more ------------------------>
https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm#C
Bookmarks