A fairly recent client got my personal info and has been calling me telling " I know everything about you" . " I want to stop by your home and give you some $ " telling me how much he cares for me and what all he wants to do for me blah blah blah . WTF is this man thinking ? He is single and has nothin to lose obviously .
I am really geeked out that this fella went to my Dr. office (mutual Dr. btw)and wanted to give me a "gift" by paying for my Dr. visit and the Dr. office tells me that the man demanded a receipt for the cash he paid . On that receipt it shows my private home addy and all that goes along with a Dr. visit .
-Layla

your Dr.'s office violated HIPPA and JCHO rules and regulations by allowing him to know you go there.  Even if it wasn't the office who told him they never should have let him know in any way that you're a patient.

Second, by admitting you are a pateint and then handing him a receipt w/ your info they further violated these lovely FEDERAL regulations!

Third, inform him that not only can he be prosecuted for violating your privacy rights, but he is violating stalker laws.

Fourth, switch doctors!!!!!  Oh, and inform them you know they violated HIPPA and JCHO Federal regulations and may be facing a lawsuit.

This is wrong on sooooo many levels that I cannot comprehend what has happened.  Not that long ago I went to pay on braces for my daughter.  Because of dr patient privalege, I had to provide the child custody agreement - that showed that I was responsible for my part of the bill!!!  In this instance you should take your Dr. to task for breach of Dr. Patient confidentiality... who knows what his office staff blabs!  that is really not good.

Second... as I have stated on this board, we do fall for the ladies on occasion (and I am not alone in this) but what keeps us (and you safe) is the fact that we guys do recognize the "fantasy" for what it is.  Your reality is no better or worse than ours, rather it is reality.  and in our sessions, we both have some escape - that you so graciously provide.  This guy is unable to separate reality from fantasy - which most of us can.... I can only offer that he is dangerous.  and is probably not to be trusted.....   and I do know of providers who have had like experiences... they have had to move - change personas... etc.  in order to feel safe.... I hope that you do not have to go through that!  YIKES!  You may wish to offer to meet this guy in a VERY public place and tell him that you are not interested in a personal relationship with him... further, because he has crossed a line, you would be unable to see him in professionally again as well....  hopefully this would stop him.  

-- Modified on 6/29/2007 9:51:06 AM

I would not see him though, as suggested by one repsonse. No matter what the tone of the meeting, he may interpret it in a positive light and to his advantage. (i.e. I have a date with Layla) The last thing you want!
However, I would contact him alright, by e-mail or voice mail and tell him clearly that you consider his actions as stalking and you will contact police unless he stops all contact with you immediately.
Layla, be very firm and consise..do not give him an opening or suggest this is a conversation youre having or some sort of dialog. If he whines or comes back with some BS about just wanting to be friends, contact the police.
As a matter of fact send them a letter anyway so youre on record. Police departments do take this seriously and you have grounds to be concerned.
Why your Doctors' office would release this information is truly breathtaking in its' stupidity. I really like Holly's suggestions though on that score.
Sure hope this helps a little as well Layla.
Best wishes to you. Good luck with your golf lessons. Im coming down in August, as you know, but I my golf teaching skills are pretty much confined to miniature! lol

There is really only one way to get him to leave you alone.
Inform him that if he doesn't leave you alone, you will contact the police and have him arreated for stalking.
Then follow through.
He will threaten to "out" you but the police really aren't interested in that. They will follow through and talk to him.

If you don't take affirmative action, he will continue to hound you, and may eventually get bolder and be more of a threat.

Don't put up with this.

Just my opinion...
B

The client referred me to the Dr. I was told by the Dr. that when I signed the HIPPA disclosure form that it states that they can release info to whoever the responisble party is (which is myself)not the client . Even though (client) took it upon himself to go to the Dr. office and pay for the "gift" he was giving me... therefore the Dr. tells me that he (client)was the "responsible party" .
Does not make sense to me and is very unfair . I have learned a valuable lesson by even talking to clients about ANYTHING !!  Married men are the SAFEst clients because they are less likely going to dig into your personal business  to get to know you better. I am just shaking all over knowing that things like this happens. SINGLE clients seem to want to know a SINGLE ladies personal business all too much IMO . No offense to you single fellas that do keep to yourself and not try becoming part of a working ladies personal lives.
Its just WRONG  any way you look at it .. it is wrong . You know this goes back to a topic below that  as of recent about ladies going to clients homes . That is how I thought this client got my personal info. Oh my stars  i would have never thought   from a Dr. office .

Just because you are referred to by someone - that does not automatically make them the responsible party.  As I say, the troubling factor here is that even when I went to pay my daughter's dental bills, I had to provide legal evidence of responsibility!  Something smells here... and I think that lawyering-up might be in order... or - change doctors... and have a candid coversation with the new doc... about what he/she can or cannot do without your express consent.

As far as single hobbiests go... I am one.  and hopefully I never come off like this!  and hopefully i never encounter a provider who would reverse the tables!  This is just too spooky!

Further, on reflection of the other posters, I agree - DO NOT MEET WITH THE GUY! e-mail - stating that you cannot meet with him - under any circumstances - personal or professional... you do not have to provide a reason, and that if he pursues, you will contact the cops.  Your safety comes first.  Thanks to the others... you are correct.

-- Modified on 6/29/2007 11:03:30 AM

What you are going to do.
Get a lawyer and sue the doctor
go to the cops and file a complaint against the client/stalker.

DO NOT make idle threats of legal action DO IT ! !
DO NOT tell them what you are going to do- DO NOT warn them - DO IT ! !

I hope you are and stay safe, and that  all works out for you.

Thank You

I doubt that any receipt your Dr. Gave had your private medical info. The problem here is that it is not a HIPPA violation for him to pay your bill. It MIGHT be a violation if they gave confidential medical information along with a receipt. Unfortunately just about anyone is allowed to pay your bill. They are not entitled to your private medical informatio however. It is not illegal for a doctor to let someone pay the bill. While it is not illegal to divulge that you are a patient, most office will not give out that kind of information, so I agree you should find another doctor. HIPPA only protects that medical information, nothing else.

Coding

Delivering quality healthcare depends on capturing accurate and timely medical data. Medical coding professionals fulfill this need as key players in the healthcare workplace.

Health information coding is the transformation of verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries, and procedures into numeric or alphanumeric designations. Originally, medical coding was performed to classify mortality (cause of death) data on death certificates. However, coding is also used to classify morbidity and procedural data. The coding of health-related data permits access to medical records by diagnoses and procedures for use in clinical care, research, and education.

Since the implementation of the federal government's first prospective payment system in 1983, there has been a great deal more emphasis placed on medical coding. Currently, reimbursement of hospital and physician claims for Medicare patients depends entirely on the assignment of codes to describe diagnoses, services, and procedures provided. In the 1990s the federal government attacked the problem of healthcare fraud and abuse. As the basis for reimbursement, appropriate medical coding has become crucial as healthcare providers seek to assure compliance with official coding guidelines.

There are many demands for accurately coded data from the medical record. In addition to their use on claims for reimbursement, codes are included on data sets used to evaluate the processes and outcomes of healthcare. Coded data are also used internally by institutions for quality management activities, case-mix management, planning, marketing and other administrative and research activities.



-- Modified on 6/29/2007 1:28:33 PM

I cannot recall ever getting a bill, receipt, or statement from a Dr. or ant medical facility that does not have those codes.

I still say the Lady should get a lawyer ! ! !
and Call the cops on the stalker....

another thought....is it possible the Dr.or someone in the Dr. office and stalker are working together ???

Thank You

followme , you have mail ..

-- Modified on 6/29/2007 2:08:37 PM

yea, this whole affair stinks to high heaven.  Knowing what I know about drs. and their incredible fear of lawsuits... over everything.  Just revealing the address is suspect.  AS I say, when I went to pay my kids braces expenses... and the contortions they put me through - it was awesome - even though my ex informed them that I was to partially pay!  

My son broke his finger... I took him to the hospital for an x-ray... and they demanded insurance... before they would let me pay!!!!!  yea, this does not sound right... and as you say - someone working with the stalker... that is the only thing that makes sense.

Thank You

-- Modified on 6/29/2007 4:20:05 PM

Stop being so litigious!!! Why do people think the best thing to do is find someone to sue?  Do you have any idea how much time and money that will cost? Do you really think the doctor's office purposely meant to do harm?  It's normal that a receipt will have the patient's name....at least in my office the patient's name is on everything, but not any medical info as per HIPAA regulations.  Just from the name alone this stalker can find more info.  It is a sad mentality that the first thing you suggest is to sue the doctor.  BTW, HIPAA regulations mostly apply to offices that transmit data electronically.....so that if that info gets hijacked while in cyberspace, the doctor is not at fault for your info being exposed.  HIPAA in a way is meant to protect healthcare providers from being unfairly accused of releasing info.  How many lawsuits do you have pending Holly?  Is this how you make a buck?

at least according to the latest HIPPA training I took last month.

Take action!

-- Modified on 6/29/2007 5:04:47 PM

It appears that everyone is overreacting.

We need a voice of reason here.

Could it be that you have misjudged the poor schmuck who was only trying to be nice?

Yes, I know I am going out on a limb here and I can hear the angry villagers marching up the hill with torches.

Sometimes guys do not realize that girls do not want the guys to get that close to them.

Maybe someone needs to explain to the fool that what he did was wrong and get him to see it from the point of view of the girl.

It is against the patient privacy act for any health care professional to admit that anyone is a patient.

It sounds to me like this guy already knew that she was a patient and must have already had her legal name.  Most physicians offices don't really question that...even though they should.

Rather than sue, though, which I think gains no one anything in the end, she should quietly just change physicians and ask that her medical records be transferred to her new doctor.  She should also make an appointment and speak with her physician about the practices of his office.  Most physicians are disconnected from the billing practices and office practices of his staff.  By making him aware, she guarantees that this will never happen to another patient.  Particularly if she explains that his office has facilitated her stalker.  If in talking with him/her, she feels that he or his staff purposely released this information rather than it being a simple mistake, then perhaps consulting an attorney is in order.

appointment is with her permission.  I've had the good fortune to have one provider be a shoulder to cry on, when I needed it.  But I did not just barge into her life... without asking permission first.  That would just be rude.  

As far as the professional issues go, would I sue?  don't know.  Sometimes it is really sad how agressive one has to get, before the offender "gets it"!  The fact that this doctor just "accepted" a payment for another patient with no questions asked... really troubles me.  It would be totally different if say for example, the lady asked for medical assistance in exchange for say 3 or 4 sessions...  but that is NOT what happened here.  

Bizz you are right on target  .  And the fella was sat down and given an explanation (after) he come to my home, among other crazy things  ...
As far as suing someone goes ... I am leaving that up to the board of directors for this  particular profession . I have working in health care myself since 1984 and back then there was no such thing as HIPPA  but common sense tells us to not give out anyones info PERIOD .
I feel what both the Dr. , his staff and the stalker done is totally out of control and could have been controlled if everyone was doing their job as professionals and I had not taken this sweet little mans word that he was a "good man" . I blame myself for being nice to the fella and for allowing him to refer me to a DC at the last minute when I had a migraine and needed to drive 5 hrs . I  try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong . In this case the sweet lil man took advantage of the whole situation and took it upon himself to do the wrong thing. He is a professional and should have done the respectful thing by giving the personal info back to the receptionist  so that she could have mailed it to me or put it in the shredder. What did he do ?? He took the receipt and ran with it and then come to my home and made me worry how in the heck did this man get all of this info in such a short period of time .
I am a victim of domestic violence and I am always on guard when it comes to someone invading my home . Especially a man I have only met ONCE .
Any lady in my shoes would be very upset too . I am not sure what will happen if anything . Right now I have much more to deal with medically than the stalker .
I believe in KARMA .. Karma is everywhere you are going to be .

First, hope this is a good venue for you to VENT and get that anger, hurt, fear, frustration out of your system.

Hopefully, your visit to that Dr is a one-time event.  You might want to politely let the Dr know you don't appreciate his/her staff providing your private info...honey catches more flies.

I too am leary of providing my personal info, including full name, to a provider for exactly this reason.  I don't expect her to use her real name.  And hope we both are respectful of each other and their privacy.

If the 'client' continues pestering you, hope you don't hesitate to file a complaint with the cops.

Your situation sure SUCKS!  

contact a lawyer for your own safety, maybe one that represents Providers. Good Luck.

First of all, it is not HIPPA, it's HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).  The part of the Act that everyone is referring to is the Privacy Rule.  This protects all "individually identifiable health information" in any form or media, whether electronic, paper, or oral.  This is also referred to as protected health information (PHI).  However, where you and a lot of other people make a mistake is assuming that health information is only limited to medical information.  Actually is is very broad.

"Individually identifiable health information" is information, including demographic data, that relates to:
 • the individual’s past, present or future physical or mental health or condition,
 • the provision of health care to the individual, or
 • the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to the individual,
and that identifies the individual or for which there is a reasonable basis to believe can be used to identify the individual. Individually identifiable health information includes many common identifiers (e.g., name, address, birth date, Social Security Number).

Note the last bullet that says payment/billing information is also protected especially if it links the information back to the patient (individual indentifiers).  Some facilities even go as far as protecting email addresses, IP addresses and vehicle identifiers (license plate numbers) of the patient, relatives, employers or household members of the patient.

I think this is a clear violation of the Privacy Rule and she should report the doctor's office for releasing her information without her authorization.  If it is this easy to get someone's personal data, I'll be paying for Jessica Alba's next appointment.

-- Modified on 6/30/2007 7:58:23 PM

No it's not overreacting IMO. Calling her up & saying I got all your info & showing up, etc says to me he's a stalker.

Stay safe.

Sara

The good news is, he's probably not actually dangerous. The bad news is, you can't take the chance. Let him know the next time you see him unwillingly, you're going to talk to the police- then do just that.

I've been nice to girls I've met in the biz plenty of times, but I've never shown up at their house or pulled tricks to find out where they live. That's crazy to do!

I work with several medical facilities and have had to go through yearly HIPAA and patient confidentiality training.  In reading Holly's posts, it seems she has also had to take some training.  Your post shows that you are not familiar with this area and are making a lot of assumptions so please read my post below about HIPAA and the Privacy Rule and stop spreading erroneous information.  It does not apply only to medical information.  It applies to much more than electronically transmitted data.  It doesn't matter whether or not the doctor's office purposely meant to do harm.  The purpose of the Privacy Rule is to make sure measures are in place to prevent intentional or inadvertent disclosure of Protected Health Information.  This even applies to leaving paperwork or a computer screen with patient information visible to other employees that don't have a need to know.  I agree that a lawsuit may not be necessary but this situation is a definite HIPAA violation and at the very least, the doctor's office needs to be reported to prevent this from happening again.

-- Modified on 7/1/2007 1:59:13 AM

Although anyone with enough resolve can find out almost anything they want if they know your name, you might consider getting a private PO Box service for your mail. Use that address for anything and everything that requires you to provide that info- including doctor's, work, credit cards, etc.

On those very few items that require a physical mailing address(some utility bills, for example, don't allow PO boxes) do what I do. I use my middle name and mispell my last name.

Even my health insurance people don't have my physical address-- I use the PO Box for everything. Work doesn't have my physical address-- my driver's license has only my PO Box.

I got cautious year's ago after a run in at my then home with a former employee that I had fired. Gave me a whole new appreciation for privacy rights.

I'd recommend one of the private services that offer some anonymity as opposed to the post office which generally requires an ID. But if you must use the post office a simple way to get around it is to have a friend get the box. Once it's acquired, all the post office cares about is that it is paid for and you can use cash.

Certainly not fool proof, but it does make things a little harder if a bad guy is trying to find you.

I agree with moe, when in doubt, blame the doctor and sue him. nice answer lawyers. Most doctors would never allow this to go on if they KNEW about it. A doctor can't control every single interaction that goes on in his office. If he was made aware of this through a letter or call, I'm sure he would never allow this to happen again. I'm sorry you had to go through that. The blame, people, needs to be put on the GODDAMN STALKER, get a clue people.

OMG I SAW THIS PERSON. He calls me all the time, emails me he really seems sweet. if anyone has any other info please email me
Thank you
Brianna Lynn