HIPAA Form question

[Brovane]

I have a question based on a situation that I was in with my wife several weeks ago. She had gone into the Emergency room, there was some issues. I was about 70 miles away for a business meeting. When I was trying to call into the hospital to get a update on the situation. They kept throwing the HIPAA thing in my face even though I was her husband and the nurse kept telling me that she couldn't talk to me about my wife's condition specifically. Everything turned out fine at the end of the day however I want to be ready for the future. Is there a way to get a generic HIPAA form that is already pre-filled out and signed by my wife? I was thinking she could keep one on her and I would keep one on the my smart phone. That way if there is a issue I could just quickly fax in the HIPAA form to the hospital. However the HIPAA forms I seem to find online are specific to either a hospital or insurance carrier.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Are you not an ICE contact on your wife's cell phone? That should be sufficient... At least it has been when I've been to the ER, or someone who has me as an ICE contact has gone to the ER.

 

[Brovane]

Are you not an ICE contact on your wife's cell phone? That should be sufficient... At least it has been when I've been to the ER, or someone who has me as an ICE contact has gone to the ER.

It wasn't working that way. I think part of the issue that I was calling in to the ER after my Mom called me and told me what was going on. It wasn't a huge deal I just want to try and be better prepared next time.

 

[RKS]

I have generic HIPAA forms but most local hospitals prefer their own but in an emergency they would take what is available.

 

[Powermoloch]

The Hospital can't disclose any information unless they have a consent, i.e. your wife. Have you ever looked at Durable power of attorney for healthcare?

 

[conorvansmack]

^this^ It's all about patient consent. From the hospital's point of view, you may be married or related, but those relationships don't always mean that one party wants the other to know what is going on.

 

[RKS]

www.emmes.com/study/ped/resources/hipaasampleform.pdf or just google sample hipaa form/release

 

[astrosfan315]

^this^ It's all about patient consent. From the hospital's point of view, you may be married or related, but those relationships don't always mean that one party wants the other to know what is going on.

or an ambulance chasing attorney wanting to know what condition she has so you can pimp her some 'legal advice'. Thus one of the main reasons for the Health Act in the first place.

 

[etrigan420]

The Hospital can't disclose any information unless they have a consent, i.e. your wife. Have you ever looked at Durable power of attorney for healthcare?

^this^ It's all about patient consent. From the hospital's point of view, you may be married or related, but those relationships don't always mean that one party wants the other to know what is going on.

Both of these.

We (the hospital) cannot verify your identity over the phone, so no information would be released, regardless of whether or not she gave consent.

Yes, I have had a "What do you mean you can't tell me her lab results? I'm her goddamned FATHER!!!1" phone call...more than one actually.

HIPAA is kind of a vague rule really...and where I work we deal with military and state disclosure laws as well, each more restrictive than the next it seems.

Just remember, it *is* there for patient safety and confidentiality. It's just not very convenient sometimes.

 

[Brovane]

Both of these.

We (the hospital) cannot verify your identity over the phone, so no information would be released, regardless of whether or not she gave consent.

Yes, I have had a "What do you mean you can't tell me her lab results? I'm her goddamned FATHER!!!1" phone call...more than one actually.

HIPAA is kind of a vague rule really...and where I work we deal with military and state disclosure laws as well, each more restrictive than the next it seems.

Just remember, it *is* there for patient safety and confidentiality. It's just not very convenient sometimes.

That being said when I call a bank, credit card company etc. they are able to verify my identity over the phone. Yet somehow a hospital is not able to do the same thing?

 

[Brovane]

www.emmes.com/study/ped/resources/hipaasampleform.pdf or just google sample hipaa form/release

Thanks this kind of what I was looking for.

 

[etrigan420]

That being said when I call a bank, credit card company etc. they are able to verify my identity over the phone. Yet somehow a hospital is not able to do the same thing?

Honestly, I have no idea.

I know (as I'm sure you do) that they don't fall under HIPAA, but other than that, I've got nothin'.

I *do* know that the bank wouldn't tell you bupkis about your wife's account though

 

[Robert12385]

Depending on the severity of the situation, if there was time, the hospital should have given your wife a packet showing her rights and paper forms.
Physicians have these forms and hospitals have them also.
You can see the available paper forms for your information at our site
http://drsforms-systems.com/hippacompliant/hippapages/HIPAAmain.htm.

HIPAA is very strict. With or without permission you cannot receive information over the phone, even for a loved one. You have to prove who you are and that is only in person. The regulations are bent when a physician goes into the waiting room to announce the situation to an approved person and when they screw up and announce their findings in waiting rooms, halls
etc. I have seen a cardiologist tell a patient he needs a aorta replacement in a waiting room in earshot of better than 10 people.

 

[Whisper]

That being said when I call a bank, credit card company etc. they are able to verify my identity over the phone. Yet somehow a hospital is not able to do the same thing?

I'd imagine it's a general theme that health-related information is kept to a higher confidentiality standard than even financial information. Unless you're seen in person, the bank technically can't verify it's you, either; they can just verify enough information to meet whatever guidelines they abide by.