RE: HIPAA and Privacy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/2004 6:04:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

JustDiagnosed@... writes:

I know some people might just think I have my knickers in a twist over

nothing, but to me it's a big deal! My medical history is between me and my

doctors and unfortuntely, some times with the people behind me in line at the

pharmacy.

Hi Shannan,

I don't think mail carriers pay any attention to what mail someone receives.

At least I know our mail carrier doesn't. He just wants to deliver the mail

and get home to his family.

Even though I no longer have cancer, I still get mail concerning cancer, I

get mail about arthritis, heart diseases and lots of others. That does not mean

that I have these illnesses/diseases.

Same with credit card information. If people saw the amount of mail we get

from credit card companies/banks, they would think we had charge cards from

every company/bank in the world.

When I'm picking up prescriptions, I don't pay any attention to who is behind

me. I figure that if someone doesn't have anymore to do than find out what

I'm reading or meds I'm taking, something is wrong in their life. They need to

get " one " . LOL

hugs

Eunice

[Guest guest]

It may seem to be a nuisance to get a p o box but at

least you would have your privacy. I had to, but my

reason was solely cuz my parents whom my son & I live

felt they had a rt to know all of my business. It is a

control issue, I took it away from them.

--- JustDiagnosed@...

wrote:

> I guess by now everyone knows about the HIPAA law

regarding privacy and your

> medical records.

>

> I'm not ready to share with the world that I'm

diabetic - or that I have any

> other issues. I'm a very private person. When I get

letters from Social

> Security regarding my disability, it says so on the

envelope for the return

> address.I HATE that! I don't need my mailwoman

knowing I'm on SSD. What if my

> mail is mistakenly delivered to one of my neighbors?

They don't need to know

> I'm on disability. I'm not happy being on disability

and definitely don't feel

> the need to share it.

>

> Back to diabetes. In yesterday's mail I received a

boatload of diabetes

> information - none of it in envelopes (even that

doesn't matter much as the

> return address may indicate diabetes - or any other

ailment), with the words

> DIABETES in huge letters. Again, my maillady doesn't

need to know my business and

> I'm always afraid my mail is going to make it into

someone elses mailbox

> before mine. I guess I could get a PO Box, but

that's a nuisance for me at this

> point. I know that if I fill out a card for a

diabetes magazine, I'm

> setting myself up for all of this. Or even fill out

online stuff. But as far as I

> remember, I sent in my warranty registration card

for my meter and that's

> about it. Maybe that was my downfall!!??

>

> Anyway, I got to thinking. If you're a pervert and

get porn delivered to

> your home, it comes wrapped up somehow so that naked

bodies or other pictures

> are not protruding from the wrapper. That's all fine

and dandy, but why are

> perverts protected and people with medical problems

not protected from having

> their private materials visible to strangers??

Apparently items sent though

> the postal service aren't covered under HIPAA?

>

> I know some people might just think I have my

knickers in a twist over

> nothing, but to me it's a big deal! My medical

history is between me and my

> doctors and unfortuntely, some times with the people

behind me in line at the

> pharmacy.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Shannan

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

removed]

>

=====

Gloria Lysa gloria9055@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/2004 9:35:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

brucewilson@... writes:

I'm not happy being on disability and definitely don't feel

the need to share it.

[, Bruce] It is nothing to be ashamed of.[, Bruce]

I understand what you're saying and I've told myself that a million times,

but I still feel funny. I'm in my mid 30's and have been on disability for 7

years. I don't want people to know because on the outside I appear quite

healthy and I don't want questions. Of course, going this route doesn't do much

for the people who just think I don't work because I'm lazy. <sigh>

My disability is for a mental disorder - so maybe I'm a little more touchy

than I need to be, but I'm sure you all are aware of the stigma that goes

along with that.

Shannan

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/2004 9:31:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

ERWachter@... writes:

I don't think mail carriers pay any attention to what mail someone receives.

At least I know our mail carrier doesn't. He just wants to deliver the mail

and get home to his family.

True - I see your point. And given that I constantly get other people's

mail, I guess maybe my worry with the mail lady could be unjustified. However,

my

neighbor's getting my mail is still an issue. That happens quite frequently.

=-(

Shannan

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/2004 10:05:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

sandyb@... writes:

Sometimes there's a place on those cards (in incredibly tiny print) where

you can opt out of further info/mailings but not always.

yeah, I normally look for that stuff, but didn't see it. It looked so very

innocent and was even postage - paid! <G>

I'm guessing I was gonna be on lists anyway - guessing the pharmacy probably

sells my name anyway and who knows who else in my medical care sells

names....

Shannan

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/2004 10:31:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

aazari@... writes:

Anyone who would judge me because I'm diabetic needs to take a hike out of

my life anyway and that's my attitude for a number of things: religion, life

choices, etc. Folks who don't accept me as I am don't tend to stay in my

life long.

Wishing I had that mentality. As I mentioned in another post, I also have a

mental disorder and I'm so very embarassed/ashamed and about 10 other emotions

over having this that I guess any other ailment that I'm diagnosed with gets

lumped together and makes me more secretive and privacy-happy.

Definitely not constructive....

Shannan

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/2004 10:52:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

NavyGoat@... writes:

In

short, they shouldn't judge a person by the mail they receive.

I agree - and maybe they woudln't judge me - but they'd still *know* or even

think they know something about me that I'm not willing to share -

regardless of whether or not it's true.

Geeze.. I got issues! <G>

Shannan

[Guest guest]

HIPAA and Privacy

I'm not happy being on disability and definitely don't feel

the need to share it.

[, Bruce] It is nothing to be ashamed of.[, Bruce]

[Guest guest]

Shannan wrote:

>But as far as I remember, I sent in my warranty registration card for my

>meter and that's

>about it. Maybe that was my downfall!!??

Yup, that would do it.

Sometimes there's a place on those cards (in incredibly tiny print) where

you can opt out of further info/mailings but not always.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Personally, I don't care if people know I'm diabetic. *shrug* It's part of

me, so people will just have to deal with it the same as they have to deal

with all my other quirks. :-p

Anyone who would judge me because I'm diabetic needs to take a hike out of

my life anyway and that's my attitude for a number of things: religion, life

choices, etc. Folks who don't accept me as I am don't tend to stay in my

life long.

Aazari

The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette

http://www.aazari.com/art/

Art Protection League

http://www.artprotectionleague.org/

[Guest guest]

(Snip) In yesterday's mail I received a boatload of diabetes

> information - none of it in envelopes (even that doesn't matter

much as the

> return address may indicate diabetes - or any other ailment), with

the words

> DIABETES in huge letters. Again, my maillady doesn't need to know

my business and

> I'm always afraid my mail is going to make it into someone elses

mailbox

> before mine.

> Any thoughts?

>

> Shannan

>

Shannan --- anyone who judged me by my mail would be be seriously mis-

informed. I receive literature on diabetes (which I have). But I also

receive mail on cancer (don't have), vinyl siding (I live in a stucco

home), alzheimers (don't have), world wildlife fund, timeshare

vacations, mortgage re-finance, etc., etc., etc. And if they glanced

at my email --- they would seriously question my " manliness " . In

short, they shouldn't judge a person by the mail they receive.

Charlotte NC

[Guest guest]

Besides, if your neighbors have noticed that you don't go to work,

they've probably already figured out that you're on some sort of

disability, even if they don't know the details. (Or do you make it a

point to be away during working hours?)

Re: HIPAA and Privacy

In a message dated 10/26/2004 9:35:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

brucewilson@... writes:

I'm not happy being on disability and definitely don't feel

the need to share it.

[, Bruce] It is nothing to be ashamed of.[, Bruce]

I understand what you're saying and I've told myself that a million

times,

but I still feel funny. I'm in my mid 30's and have been on disability

for 7

years. I don't want people to know because on the outside I appear

quite

healthy and I don't want questions. Of course, going this route doesn't

do much

for the people who just think I don't work because I'm lazy. <sigh>

My disability is for a mental disorder - so maybe I'm a little more

touchy

than I need to be, but I'm sure you all are aware of the stigma that

goes

along with that.

Shannan

[Guest guest]

Why? You didn't do anything to deserve it, and it isn't your fault.

Re: Re: HIPAA and Privacy

Wishing I had that mentality. As I mentioned in another post, I also

have a

mental disorder and I'm so very embarassed/ashamed

[Guest guest]

> Wishing I had that mentality.

It took me years of living in a home with an abusive father and the

resulting recovery to get that mentality. In the end, it boiled down to me

saying " & *$# you all, I just don't care what you think anymore! I like me,

if you don't, get lost! " Those who were real friends hung around. Those who

weren't, well, I don't miss them at all.

Aazari

The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette

http://www.aazari.com/art/

Art Protection League

http://www.artprotectionleague.org/

[Guest guest]

Mail personal don't have time to look at every letter.

But the address. They have a time limit in which has

to be delieved. And the mail is sorted by computer.

And then put in order. In which is delieverd. Trudy

--- JustDiagnosed@... wrote:

>

> In a message dated 10/26/2004 10:05:36 AM Eastern

> Daylight Time,

> sandyb@... writes:

>

> Sometimes there's a place on those cards (in

> incredibly tiny print) where

> you can opt out of further info/mailings but not

> always.

>

>

> yeah, I normally look for that stuff, but didn't see

> it. It looked so very

> innocent and was even postage - paid! <G>

>

> I'm guessing I was gonna be on lists anyway -

> guessing the pharmacy probably

> sells my name anyway and who knows who else in my

> medical care sells

> names....

>

> Shannan

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

[Guest guest]

HIPPA has it's good and bad points. It can help save a persons job from an

unscrupulous coworker, relative or who ever. On a daily basis hospital ER's

receive numerous call's about patient's from alleged " family " members. And I

have to agree with one local hospital policy " if you want to know how they are

doing come and see them and we will be glad to tell you "

Carl

----- Original Message -----

From: JustDiagnosed@...

I guess by now everyone knows about the HIPAA law regarding privacy and your

medical records.

[Guest guest]

A good friend of mine is a Shriner. The local Shrine used to give a

Christmas party for all Shriner's hospitals' patients (present & former)

in the area and their families. They can't do that any more because

HIPPA won't let the hospitals give them the patients' contact

information.

Re: HIPAA and Privacy

HIPPA has it's good and bad points. It can help save a persons job from

an unscrupulous coworker, relative or who ever. On a daily basis

hospital ER's receive numerous call's about patient's from alleged

" family " members. And I have to agree with one local hospital policy "

if you want to know how they are doing come and see them and we will be

glad to tell you "

Carl

----- Original Message -----

From: JustDiagnosed@...

I guess by now everyone knows about the HIPAA law regarding privacy and

your

medical records.

[Guest guest]

>They can't do that any more because

> HIPPA won't let the hospitals give them the patients' contact

> information.

Now that's a shame. I owe the Shriner's Burn Institute in Galveston so much.

Thanks to them I have a left hand I can use instead of a useless claw.

I used to go to all the seasonal parties they put on while I was recovering.

They were great fun and it helped me to see that in the scope of things what

I was dealing with was minor compared to some of the kids who were burned

over much larger percentages of their bodies.

Aazari

The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette

http://www.aazari.com/art/

Art Protection League

http://www.artprotectionleague.org/

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 10/26/2004 6:04:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> JustDiagnosed@... writes:

> I know some people might just think I have my knickers in a twist over

> nothing, but to me it's a big deal! My medical history is between me

> and my

> doctors and unfortuntely, some times with the people behind me in line

> at the

> pharmacy.

I get mail for my mom all the time. She has never lived at this

address. I get things like dress catalogs. If the neighbors ever got

any of it by mistake (apartment) they would probably think I was a

transvestite or something. =D Who cares.

However, I still agree with you about privacy. I remember about 20

years ago, there where these legal sized yellow envelopes you could buy

at the drug stores and other stores that had logos and things like " Your

Pregnancy Test Results Enclosed " and worse. They were sold as jokes to

play on friends.

[Guest guest]

I work in a store. We accept EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards.

Mostly they are used for Food Stamps, but also for other government

checks, like Social Security and Disability benefits. Some customers in

line behind them think that anyone with a " food stamp " card is a leech.

We also have an employee who thinks that way. Some customers don't like

anyone knowing that they have a card. They are shy about it for those

reasons. At least the cash part of the card will work exactly like a

credit/debit card so no one knows the difference. It is only the food

stamp part that takes a special machine.

[Guest guest]

Christie Jensen wrote:

> ,

>

> I just want you to know that I agree with what you have said on almost

> all counts.

> However, those people who have magazines sent wrapped KNOW FOR SURE

> that their magazines will arrive and stay private. I guess the reason

> I wouldn't want information wrapped in brown paper is that I have

> nothing to hide.

And anyone getting a magazine in a plain brown wrapper is going to be

thought of as receiving porn, even if it isn't.

I wouldn't mind a return address mentioning diabetes or a disability

service. But to put it in huge letters or a big logo or to add other

info to the outside of the envelope isn't needed. Have you complained to

them about it?

BTW - What is HIPAA (time to google)?

Ok, Health Information Privacy something something. When did this

become law? I remember a place I worked 12 years ago. If you spent

significant time off from work (several days) they wanted a letter on

letterhead stationary describing why. (Large company with government

contracts.) I was having some problems dealing with sleep and memory

loss and I mentioned the letter to the doctor and he got angry and said

it was none of there businesss and if they had problems they could call

him and he would tell them it was none of their business.

[Guest guest]

JustDiagnosed@... wrote:

> yeah, I normally look for that stuff, but didn't see it. It looked so

> very

> innocent and was even postage - paid! <G>

>

> I'm guessing I was gonna be on lists anyway - guessing the pharmacy

> probably

> sells my name anyway and who knows who else in my medical care sells

> names....

>

> Shannan

How do you think they are able to pay for the postage = )

They should make the selling of any info relating to health and finances

illegal.

[Guest guest]

I believe HIPAA came into law April 2003.

Chringle wrote:

Christie Jensen wrote:

> ,

>

> I just want you to know that I agree with what you have said on almost

> all counts.

> However, those people who have magazines sent wrapped KNOW FOR SURE

> that their magazines will arrive and stay private. I guess the reason

> I wouldn't want information wrapped in brown paper is that I have

> nothing to hide.

And anyone getting a magazine in a plain brown wrapper is going to be

thought of as receiving porn, even if it isn't.

I wouldn't mind a return address mentioning diabetes or a disability

service. But to put it in huge letters or a big logo or to add other

info to the outside of the envelope isn't needed. Have you complained to

them about it?

BTW - What is HIPAA (time to google)?

Ok, Health Information Privacy something something. When did this

become law? I remember a place I worked 12 years ago. If you spent

significant time off from work (several days) they wanted a letter on

letterhead stationary describing why. (Large company with government

contracts.) I was having some problems dealing with sleep and memory

loss and I mentioned the letter to the doctor and he got angry and said

it was none of there businesss and if they had problems they could call

him and he would tell them it was none of their business.

[Guest guest]

HIPPA stands for Health Information Privacy and Portability Act.

Re: HIPAA and Privacy

I believe HIPAA came into law April 2003.

Chringle wrote:

Christie Jensen wrote:

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/28/2004 11:10:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

jimhart9@... writes:

They

tell me that quite often someone who objects to getting mail from

them will tape the reply-postage paid envelope to a brick and mail

it back. Postage is around $10. Not trying to give you any ideas or

anything.....

If someone doesn't want mail/package, etc, all they have to do is write

" refused " on it.

Doing anything to increase the return postage, only adds more cost/postage to

the people that do want to receive information.

Eunice