[deptmgr]

I was injured at work, both shoulder and neck, after several months surgery was done on my shoulder. I was placed in a imoblizing sling for 10 weeks. I went back to work 5 weeks after surgery. I went to a department manager meeting with approx. 20 other dept. mgrs.. The store manager started with that we need to cut down on associate and customer accidents. That last month, we paid out $23,000 on an associate accident that we did not budget for. This will not hurt the company at the end,it should even out, but it will effect our accociate bonus's. The cost will come out of this bonus ( bonus's are quarterly for associates). Discussion followed with a few not happy with the answer "yes, it was $23,000." During this whole discussion I was sitting there in my sling. Was this a breech of Hippa law. The employer is large enough that they are self administated on workmens comp.

[ScottGem]

No it was not a violation of HIPAA. Your medical practitioners did not reveal info about your diagnosis and treatment without permission.

[deptmgr]

The employer is self insured for Workman's comp. They direct where to go, when to go and pay the bills. The company fired the first company doctor because he wanted me to go a neurologist. The company HR person (and so did the store manager) knew before I did to finally see the Neurologist and it was not approved for 2 months after seeing a the new company doctor. I understood that self insured companys that pay the bills,also feel under the same rules. Am I wrong?

[Fr_Chuck]

No, they were not talking about your specific case but about all bills in general and this ( safety) is a management job,

The company, even with insurance, in the US, work under state law, in some states, they are allowed to say what doctor you can go to, here in GA if you get hurt on the job, you have to go to only those doctors on their approved list. And only those hospitals on the approved list.

Since the company approves, and manages the workers comp payments, those management people involved are allowed to know because of their positions.

Also even in companies with workers comp insurance, the company is the client, to the doctors, ( they are the ones paying them, and you are merely the patient)
And yes, on my last workers injury, my manager and the HR were faxed copies of every one of my doctors visits and their recommendations. They had them on their desks before I left the doctors parking lot.