Can a hospital emergency room release medical information to a bill collector if they lost the patient information release authorization? Is that release considered lawful?

Richl

[QUOTE=richl]Can a hospital emergency room release medical information to a bill collector if they lost the patient information release authorization? Is that release considered lawful?



What type of info was released? The collection agency is certain entitled to the fact that you were treated and the dates -

JudyKayTee,

Name, rank, horsepower, height, weight, vitals, medical condition and treatment. Can they do that if they've lost the Hipaa form?

Richl

[QUOTE=richl]JudyKayTee,

Name, rank, horsepower, height, weight, vitals, medical condition and treatment. Can they do that if they've lost the Hipaa form?



Is this the same matter - which I believe was a collection matter - that you've posted before involving an ER visit?

I don't understand why losing (or not losing) the HIPAA form would have anything to do with releasing the info to a collection agency - for that matter your Pharmacy releases your medical info to your health insurance company.

Somewhat on the same subject - I recently reviewed an estate file and was horrified that the hospital bill submitted to the Court for payment out of the estate contained every procedure, every medication, everything that occurred in the hospital. And now it's more or less public record.

In my opinion - and I am always willing to be corrected - knowing that this info can be placed in the hands of a collection agency is another reason not to let things medical go to collection. Of course, this advice comes rather late in this case.

If you believe this is a HIPAA violation, report it and see where it ends up.

Frankly, if the hospital's SOP is to get such a release signed, then a court is going to assume they got one but lost it.

Second, if you are looking for a financial windfall because of this, forget. HIPAA violations may result in fines or scantsion against the healt care provider, but not fianncial remuneration for the patient.

HIPPA releases are usually valid for a year from the date originally signed. The hospital will most likely have kept a copy when they got the original request and if that release was signed less than a year ago, they are perfectly within their rights to release the medical information encompassed within the release form.