HIPPA Violation?

[surfmanrj]

When I was under the age of 18 I went to a chemical dependency clinic run by my HMO. The staff at the clinic informed me that all records and infomration to do with this department of the HMO are kept in house and will never show up on my main medical records. Recently, while at the Family Practice facility for a foot injury I noticed on the screen, prominitley displayed with all my infomration for the doctor and nurses to see was the information about my vist to the Chemical dependency clinic. I was embarassed and upset by this, and was treated differently by the doctors. They even went as far as to downgrade the pain medication that I was to receive as if I was going to use it for recreational use, even though my visit to the clinic had nothing to do with pills. After I left the doctor I went to the Manager of the Family Practice Facility to complain and she told me this would be removed from my record. To my knowlede it still has not been removed and I was never followed up with.What is the name of your state?

[ecmst12]

This is not a Hippa violation. And it would be illegal for your doctors to remove items from your medical records that belong there.

[moburkes]

Its HIPAA.

[ecmst12]

I know that, just a typo. I was in a hurry.

[Insurance Pro]

I agree...I do not see this as a violation of HIPAA. HIPAA specifically allows communication of IIHI (Individually Identifiable Health Information) between professionals for treatment purposes. I believe this would be classified as treatment purpose. In addition, when speaking with the average medical worker(in your case, a records technician maybe?) I would take any legal advice given (this was, of sorts, legal advice) with a big old fat grain of salt. The average healthcare employee has enough HIPAA knowledge to be dangerous. Nothing personal to all of you medical workers out there!