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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by med_empowered on September 19, 2006, at 18:32:27
does anyone know what kind of info, if any, insurance shares with shrinks? and..do they send it automatically, or should the shrink request it?
im considering going to a shrink after a long time of not going to one. i dont want to have to re-live med trials all over again...will the shrink know what I've taken?
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2006, at 22:03:43
In reply to insurance sharing info w/ shrinks, posted by med_empowered on September 19, 2006, at 18:32:27
I think Hippa states they can share everything with insurance companies. Can you self-pay? Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on September 19, 2006, at 23:07:07
In reply to insurance sharing info w/ shrinks, posted by med_empowered on September 19, 2006, at 18:32:27
> does anyone know what kind of info, if any, insurance shares with shrinks? and..do they send it automatically, or should the shrink request it?
>
> im considering going to a shrink after a long time of not going to one. i dont want to have to re-live med trials all over again...will the shrink know what I've taken?You must generally sign a document consent form with your psychiatrist that allows the release and collection of information for their files and if you are using insurance the insurance company will have information as well upon signature of said form.
This does not mean you have to relive med trials, that would be bad medical practice of your new psychiatrist. You would probably sign a form, or the above form would include transference of records from your prior psychiatrist to your current one.
This link is a very simple summary of HIPAA OCR information.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_rights.pdf
For more information, peruse http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
In general it means that your employer cannot have access to your personal information other than aggregate health insurance statistics stripped of personal identifiable information -- the law is complex and convoluted but is the best that we have and believe me, HIPAA was a lifesaver for obtaining insurance personally as it forces insurance companies, after COBRA is exhausted, to sell you at a set ceiling, a policy even if you are denied of preexisting conditions. They may not be the best out there but they are a stopgap, and insurance is primarily frankly there these days to give you X million dollars if you are in the ICU.
Posted by gardenergirl on September 20, 2006, at 8:36:35
In reply to insurance sharing info w/ shrinks, posted by med_empowered on September 19, 2006, at 18:32:27
Assuming you live in the US...Insurance companies do not share protected health information with doctors. HIPAA only allows for the minimum necessary information to be shared BY the doctor TO the insurance company. The information about a patient's protected health information should only flow one way--doctor to insurance.
I don't think a pdoc would have access to any of your protected health information from your insurance company. The only way a pdoc could access your records from other health care providers would be with your written consent. An exception to this might be if you were to see a different doctor at the same agency or group practice.
That said, any new doctor would want to know what you've been on before and how it affected you. It will be important for you and the doctor to establish a cooperative working relationship so that you both can best assess your current needs.
Good luck and hope this helps.
gg
Posted by notfred on September 20, 2006, at 17:35:35
In reply to Re: insurance sharing info w/ shrinks » med_empowered, posted by gardenergirl on September 20, 2006, at 8:36:35
If this is within an HMO your info can be shared freely with other docs you see within the HMO.
This is part to the contract you enter into when you sign up with an HMO. You also cannot sue a HMO for malpractice.Insurance that is not an HMO gives you more rights,
you would have to sign a release. Much the same as
when you pay out of pocket, if you do not have insurance.
Posted by Phillipa on September 20, 2006, at 19:21:04
In reply to Re: insurance sharing info w/ shrinks » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2006, at 22:03:43
Other than insurance companies. I've never had any records send from previous pdocs. They didn't want them. They wanted to assess me themselves. And the doc asked me what meds I'd been on. I didn't have to tell everyone as you tend to forget anyway. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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