RE: Copies of Lab Reports/to all

[Guest guest]

There is nothing that is specific about mailing, faxing, emailing other than an

assurance that

those means of transmission are secure. And the office policies and procedures

around those

transmissions are secure. If the physican office or provider does not feel one

or any of these is

not secure and does not support or maintain the tennets of HIPAA, then they have

an obligation to

" not mail " , " not fax " or " not email " . You also have to make sure that a proper

release is executed

and the protected health care information is going to be in the hands of the

intended person.

It is not necessary to obtain separate release information for info to go

another doc or insurance

co for the " treatment " or " payment " related to the date of service. The example

of this is the

primary doc refers the pt to a pain doc. The pain doc wants, say the last two

office notes and

recent labs or radiology. You don't need a separate release for this because it

is about the

" treatment " of the pt. Another example... The same pt is going to the pain doc

and the pain doc

office calls the refering doc and wants pt demographics and a copy of the

insurance card. You do

not need a separate release for this protected health care inforamtion because

it is about the "

payment of services " .

The exception to this would be when a pt wants their entire records or large

parts of the records

sent to another doc. You need to get a release.

Many offices are very scared of HIPAA and rightfully so. As a pt I would follow

the rules of the

specific office [and I do as pt]. All they are trying to do is keep your

protected health care

information safe. It really is all about us the pt although it may not seem

that way.

Sharon

--- " K. Hanson, CTR " wrote:

> I understand needing to complete a release but is there something

> specifically in HIPAA stating that they cannot be mailed?

>

>

>

> Kim in No Texas

>

>

>

> Copies of Lab Reports

>

> I got my answer. All of this is due to HIPPA.

>

> Each time you have labs run, you need to sign a release requesting that

> copies of those lab reports be sent to you.

>

> Ideally, labs should be run before your office visit, so you can discuss

> them with the doc, and get your copies at that time.

>

>

>

> > Hi Jul,

> > My friend, Ginger that started using Dr Owens just before you has the

> > same frustrations, she wont mail or fax any labs, she says you must

> > come pick them up !

> > Blessings, Pam

>

>

>

>

>

>

Sharon

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