Here's my "sick verification" story:
I had a head cold and normally would sit it out. With the new rules I figured I better get my sick call "verified."
So I printed out the sick verification form and went to my MD and asked him to fill it out.
On the form, my MD wrote "sick visit" because he felt he couldn't provide "individually identifiable health information" to a third party due to
HIPPA regulations.
I sent it in and got a phone call stating my verification was denied because it didn't state the nature of the illness in general terms.
With more phone calls and back and forth, I was advised to go back to the doctor and convince him that he has it wrong on the HIPPA law and he needs to fill out the form stating "the nature of the illness in general terms.
I didn't think I would be very successful giving my doctor legal advice on what he can and cannot say when it comes to federal law, so I called ALPA.
My rep was nice and forwarded my concerns to the contract admin types in ATL. They said this is all still new but if you had a prescription, you can send in your prescription and that will get the sick time verified.
Since I had already filled the prescription and figured a picture of the filled prescription with a matching date to the doctors visit, the doctors name, my name and the name of the medication would be plenty of information to verify I was actually sick.
No, came back the answer from the 4th floor helpers, that still doesn't "state the nature of the illness in general terms" no verification for you!
When I contacted contract admin about this second rejection, they changed their story and said well, you don't have to get it verified and maybe you should just go to your doctor and get a new note...
Since the people tasked with representing my interests were unable to come though on cutting though this madness, I figure I'll just talk to a CP...
After a promotional presentation for the new sick leave program and some tips the sick leave was verified...and the madness finally came to an end.
Here is a key takeaway tip:
Fill out the sick leave verification form completely except for the doctors signature.
Make sure the reason for the visit "describes the nature of the illness in general terms" This is really key for the 4th floor carreer types that process these requests.
Cheers
George