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Invasion Of Privacy?

UR Groovy

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UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted

Hi folks,

I'm so floored right now. Something that wasn't supposed to have anything to do with my personal medical records was added to them because of a billiing error, not to mention that they billed my insurance company, which also wasn't supposed to happen. At this point, they can't remove the information from my medical records because of federal law.

This is how it happened:

I went to the endodontist and the assistant pricked her finger (after I left) with a needle that had been used on me. subsequently, I rec'd a call from them requesting that I go in for bloodwork because the gal that had been pricked was taking precautionary meds to halt the possible progress of HIV or Hep C or B, and it was making her really sick.

So, as a favor to them (because I understand the emotional torture of not knowing whether you have a life-threatening virus and because I understand how horrible some of those drugs can make you feel) I was more than happy to go in for testing. So, I go in & sign the releases - 1 for them to release the records to the Endo & 1 for the results to be sent to me. Well because I happen to be a patient of this HMO (not for long - I plan to cut all ties with these guys after this) and because the stupid lab that processed my bloodwork blew it, my insurance was billed and they tied it to my medical records. I was assured when I went in (again, as a favor) that I, as a patient, would have nothing to do with it and they would be billing the Endo & not my insurance.

This has nothing to do with the Endodontist - they did everything right - it's my medical group I'm aggrevated with.

Here's the problem (2 problems): I never received the results (I was supposed to have them 2 weeks ago). I don't know if anything came up positive or not. Now when I see my nephrologist, there it is in black & white. What if (long shot) it's positive for one of them? How's that gonna affect my ability to get insurance if my husband changes jobs? And, also, I won't be the one telling my nephrologist about it - it's already there ! They assure me that the charges will be re-imbursed to my insurance.

I don't think anything came out positive because the endo says that the doctor took the gal off the meds, and also I was tested when they were trying to figure out what my kidney disease was connected to. I didn't have anything 4 years ago - I just feel invaded ! :angry:

They're (the HMO) sending me a complaint form that I can fill out and send in RE: Invasion of privacy, but I almost think it's a CYA for them. Like 10 people have called me today from the HMO about this. Apparently, when I said "I don't think this is something you should be taking lightly", they listened.

Oooooh - I'm sooo mad :angry:

Usually, I'm a pretty friendly kind of gal, but I'm so pissed right now !

Maybe just a vent, but wouldn't you be mad too?

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gfp Enthusiast
gfp
Posted
Hi folks,

I'm so floored right now. Something that wasn't supposed to have anything to do with my personal medical records was added to them because of a billiing error, not to mention that they billed my insurance company, which also wasn't supposed to happen. At this point, they can't remove the information from my medical records because of federal law.

This is how it happened:

I went to the endodontist and the assistant pricked her finger (after I left) with a needle that had been used on me. subsequently, I rec'd a call from them requesting that I go in for bloodwork because the gal that had been pricked was taking precautionary meds to halt the possible progress of HIV or Hep C or B, and it was making her really sick.

So, as a favor to them (because I understand the emotional torture of not knowing whether you have a life-threatening virus and because I understand how horrible some of those drugs can make you feel) I was more than happy to go in for testing. So, I go in & sign the releases - 1 for them to release the records to the Endo & 1 for the results to be sent to me. Well because I happen to be a patient of this HMO (not for long - I plan to cut all ties with these guys after this) and because the stupid lab that processed my bloodwork blew it, my insurance was billed and they tied it to my medical records. I was assured when I went in (again, as a favor) that I, as a patient, would have nothing to do with it and they would be billing the Endo & not my insurance.

This has nothing to do with the Endodontist - they did everything right - it's my medical group I'm aggrevated with.

Here's the problem (2 problems): I never received the results (I was supposed to have them 2 weeks ago). I don't know if anything came up positive or not. Now when I see my nephrologist, there it is in black & white. What if (long shot) it's positive for one of them? How's that gonna affect my ability to get insurance if my husband changes jobs? And, also, I won't be the one telling my nephrologist about it - it's already there ! They assure me that the charges will be re-imbursed to my insurance.

I don't think anything came out positive because the endo says that the doctor took the gal off the meds, and also I was tested when they were trying to figure out what my kidney disease was connected to. I didn't have anything 4 years ago - I just feel invaded ! :angry:

They're (the HMO) sending me a complaint form that I can fill out and send in RE: Invasion of privacy, but I almost think it's a CYA for them. Like 10 people have called me today from the HMO about this. Apparently, when I said "I don't think this is something you should be taking lightly", they listened.

Oooooh - I'm sooo mad :angry:

Usually, I'm a pretty friendly kind of gal, but I'm so pissed right now !

Maybe just a vent, but wouldn't you be mad too?

Ok, insurance aside.... Why feel bad about being tested?

This whole stigma thing is so stupid ....

Firstly the worst possible case.. lets say you had cause to want to be tested because you had unprotected sex with a stranger .. Ok, a bit stupid in todays age but YOUR BUSINESS all the same... but this is just one reason for being tested!!!!

A perfectly valid reason is you are a nurse and prick yourself with a needle, a guy who someone stabs with a blade for no good reason... or like me just a dumb guy who's girlfriend was having multiple affairs!!! Why should I fel stigmatised by being tested whe she was the one sleeping about???

Does it make me mad too? Yes ... but who is more stupid? Someone who has been put at risk and then forgoes testing and risks infecting someone else or someone who takes responsibility and gets tested???

I recently had to get a full suite of STD and HIV tests because of my ex girlfriend cheating on me... I didn't try and hide it from friends or family.. what did I do wrong??? (We were together for 5 years) ... I doubt she has even considered it... so really who should be embarrassed?

So I just thought that might at least put it in a different light... Not everyone who gets tested has done anything wrong!! Indeed I bet its less than 50% since those stupid enough to take the risks are probably the last to take responsibility

The insurance might be a different matter though!

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

the first thing done wrong here was with the whole needle prick.

I work in a hospital and for years worked in a lab processing blood work, when a nurse or employee gets a injury with a sharp or blood tube, both the employee and the patient are notified immediately. Both have the blood drawn, (2) 5ml red tubes, which are tested for HIV, HEP's etc. There is never any medication given to an employee until those results are back.

Why that nurse was given meds was wrong. You should have been told to go get that blood work ASAP. The nurse would have to have it drawn as well.

The tests them self are done within 3 days. You should have had those results.

If you need any other help, regarding this issue feel free to PM, I had any invasion of privacy happen to me last Spring and I will help you through it. It is just not something I want to post in public.

Amanda

UR Groovy Explorer
UR Groovy
Posted
  • Author
Ok, insurance aside.... Why feel bad about being tested?

This whole stigma thing is so stupid ....

Firstly the worst possible case.. lets say you had cause to want to be tested because you had unprotected sex with a stranger .. Ok, a bit stupid in todays age but YOUR BUSINESS all the same... but this is just one reason for being tested!!!!

A perfectly valid reason is you are a nurse and prick yourself with a needle, a guy who someone stabs with a blade for no good reason... or like me just a dumb guy who's girlfriend was having multiple affairs!!! Why should I fel stigmatised by being tested whe she was the one sleeping about???

Does it make me mad too? Yes ... but who is more stupid? Someone who has been put at risk and then forgoes testing and risks infecting someone else or someone who takes responsibility and gets tested???

I recently had to get a full suite of STD and HIV tests because of my ex girlfriend cheating on me... I didn't try and hide it from friends or family.. what did I do wrong??? (We were together for 5 years) ... I doubt she has even considered it... so really who should be embarrassed?

So I just thought that might at least put it in a different light... Not everyone who gets tested has done anything wrong!! Indeed I bet its less than 50% since those stupid enough to take the risks are probably the last to take responsibility

The insurance might be a different matter though!

Yeah,

I'm sooo not upset about being tested. Like I said, I was more than happy to do it. I went through volunteer testing years ago because of the same type of reasons you were - it never really occurred to me that it would have been anyone else's problem, or to be embarrassed about it. I think the invasion of privacy was that my insurance and medical records will reflect this. I'm sure that when I get the results, all will be well. It just kind of burns me up that they tied the results to my medical records despite the fact that they told me that it wasn't going to be. I get your point though.

Take care, sir. I hope you're doing well.

the first thing done wrong here was with the whole needle prick.

I work in a hospital and for years worked in a lab processing blood work, when a nurse or employee gets a injury with a sharp or blood tube, both the employee and the patient are notified immediately. Both have the blood drawn, (2) 5ml red tubes, which are tested for HIV, HEP's etc. There is never any medication given to an employee until those results are back.

Why that nurse was given meds was wrong. You should have been told to go get that blood work ASAP. The nurse would have to have it drawn as well.

The tests them self are done within 3 days. You should have had those results.

If you need any other help, regarding this issue feel free to PM, I had any invasion of privacy happen to me last Spring and I will help you through it. It is just not something I want to post in public.

Amanda

Thanks Amanda,

They did call me when it happened, but didn't ask me to come in for testing until a week later. I thought that was careless. I thought it was pretty cruel to put the poor girl on these meds without any proof that anything was there.

Anyway, I appreciate your offer of help. Sometimes things happen that just make you feel violated. It's kind of unavoidable, I guess. I don't think I'll pursue this any further. Hopefully, they'll get my results & copies of the releases that I signed to me right away and I can file this one under - "LESSON LEARNED". That HMO is toast as far as I go - they'll miss my business - they've already probably funded a special wing with the dough i've thrown into that joint.

I suppose, in addition to that, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. <_<

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

fajitas I hope all works out for you. As much I as hated working in the lab I did learn some things on the inside and it helps me understand the whole medical world a little easier. I try to spread that wealth whenever I can :)

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