Contrary to what many people think, instead of HIPAA being a major step forward to protect the privacy of the individual's medical records, it is a couple of giant steps, BACKWARD.

For example, in some , if not most hospitals, they advise you that they reserve the right to SHARE your personal health information with their "partners" for "fundraising purposes". Now, I looked this up, and lo and behold, I found that sure enough, HIPAA does in fact allow this.

Since when do their "business partners" have the right to access my personally identifiable health information for the purposes of them raising money? Doesn't this amount to the selling of my privacy rights for pecuniary interests? And, since it does, how is HIPAA protecting my privacy.

The truth is, sadly, that for health care professionals and administrators, it is a pain in the rear end, but, surprisingly  to some, it actually makes it harder for YOU the patient, or YOU the spouse of a patient, to access the records that you deserve to access.

I can remember one time when a "clinical laboratory" was denying me access to MY OWN lab reports on myself, using CLIA guidelines, which, for anyone really familiar with CLIA guidelines, is an outright violation.

RESTRUCTURING OF AN OFFICE
Many offices have been rebuilt to try to bring the office into "compliance" and many different routines in doctor's offices have been implemented, because the businesses are afraid they may be in violation of HIPAA guidelines. Most of these changes are :

a) SILLY and WASTEFUL

b) Disrupt the flow of patients, doctors, and staff

c) Are unduly burdensome due to the inconveniencing of patients

d) Make health care provider's office look like the domain of a paranoid idiot.

These HIPAA guidelines, or the perception, and often MISperception of these guidelines,have caused offices to become paranoid spaces, where each patient is treated in some respects, like some nefarious industrial spy. Everything possible is done to try to keep the "prying eyes" of patients from , heaven forbid, seeing any piece of paper or anycomputer screen, with a patient's name on it. Offices that formerly employed daily
sign-in sheets, have now had to quit that, because, again, heaven forbid, one patient, may glimpse another patient's name. Well, I suppose they need to tape up the mouths of each patient, because, I hate to burst the HIPAA bubble, but patients often exchange names with each other, and...HORROR OF HORRORS...discuss each other's health care
problems and health care histories. So, get out the duct tape boys and girls...multiple problems found in the mouths and minds of patients.

HIPAA gives some the ILLUSION that it is protecting privacy, but in reality, it is a bureaucratic stumbling block to those working in the vineyards of health care.

The notion of medical records and medical information protection is a laudable one, and indeed needs to be implemented and strengthened. But, HIPAA as it currently exists, is NOT that piece of legislation. It is a rotten piece of unduly burdensome legal nonsense and needs to be amended greatly as soon as possible!