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Old 06-13-2015, 09:52 AM
  #8397  
Wasatch Phantom
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 581
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Originally Posted by Denny Crane
I think you need to take your rose colored glasses off on this one. There is nothing in here to enhance privacy. In fact it looks like exactly the opposite.

Denny
I'll come out of APC retirement to provide a real world example of the exact kind of verbiage you can expect:

Background: Over a year go I got hurt in an OJI. Surgery was required and I was out for about 11 months. Delta uses a company called ESIS to handle their worker's compensation claims. The claims administrators have been good. However in one of the early conversations I was asked if I'd be willing to work with a "nurse case manager". I asked what that was and got an explanation. I was okay with it. A few days later the nurse case manager calls, we have a nice conversation about the service she can provide and says "I'll send you some forms to sign".

The forms arrived and I read them. I refused to sign. The next paragraphs are taken verbatim from those forms. Ask yourself if you'd be willing to sign these.

"I, the undersigned, do hereby authorize any physician or other medical or mental health professional, hospital, or other medical-related facility, school or vocational program to provide Coventry Health Care Workers Compensation, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("Coventry") and its authorized representatives Private Health Information ("PHI") verbally or in writing concerning medical advice, care, treatment, or services provided to me. PHI means any and all records, reports, or other medical information, bills and referral letters whether generated by myself, Coventry, or a third party. PHI includes information relating to mental illness, use of drugs, use of alcohol, or diagnosis of AIDS/HIV, for the purpose of providing services to me in connection with my worker's compensation, disability, or auto claim, or other claim for benefits or coverage. I understand that by signing this release I may be waiving certain rights in accordance with state and/or federal laws that allow for waiver of those rights."

Skipping ahead...

"By signing below I give my permission to disclose my health information to Coventry and its representatives. I understand that my health information may be transmitted by facsimile, electronic mail, or regular mail. I further understand that PHI disclosed pursuant to this authorization may be redisclosed by Coventry and may no longer be protected from disclosure to others by state and/or federal law. I completely release Coventry from any and all liability which may result or could result from the appropriate release of such information in accordance with state and or federal laws."

That ALPA would negotiate away protections provided by HIPAA is absolutely astounding to me.
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