Becky is ranting! Warning - Long
HIPPA = HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was signed into law on August 21, 1996. This law includes important new protections for millions of working Americans and their families who have preexisting medical conditions or might suffer discrimination in health coverage based on a factor that relates to an individual's health. HIPAA's provisions amend Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as well as the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act and place requirements on employer-sponsored group health plans, insurance companies and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). HIPAA includes changes that:
limit exclusions for preexisting conditions;
prohibit discrimination against employees and dependents based on their health status;
guarantee renewability and availability of health coverage to certain employers and individuals; and
protect many workers who lose health coverage by providing better access to individual health insurance coverage.
This is THE explanation of what HIPPA is... I work in the medical field, and it is a pain in the arse... I know we have to protect patients rights, but sometimes it is more of a pain to the patinet than protecion for them. Shame is it protects themselves right out of what is right sometimes.
All you have to do is go to the lab and request a copy of the lab work, and they HAVE TO give it to you once you sign a release. Your medical records are yours. I know some facilities require that you come in in person and sign the release, some others will allow you to do it via fax.
Good Luck to you Becky, and don't let them get the best of you.
Susan
Lap RNY 12-1-04
285-235-155 (-50)
Oh Becky i am sooo sorry you had such a hard time ...Mom cannt stand the office at PB and i am begining to hate them myself actually ....I went to my PCP for all my blood work and that was it ..and he gave me my B12 perscription and all .....So my advice is only go to PB if you really really have too ..and go to your PCP for everything else like lab work and small stuff like that ...But mom has had a heck of a time with everyone at PB and she is even refusing to pay her last bill casue of how lax they were with her and with how much pain she was in ......( that was the herina she had)
Laura 
Becky, I hope you get to the bottom of what is causing your dizzy spells. Not fun, not fun at all. I had them when I came home after my long hospital stay, for me, it ended up that the blood pressure meds that I was still on were way too strong. Did they check your BP, how was it?
Because of the lack of relationship with Duncan's office, my PCP orders and tracks all of my bloodwork. She prescribed my B12 for me. Prior to dealing with me (she is not the PCP who wrote my letter for surgery) she was anti-wls. Now, she has actually helped a couple patients with insurance approval for wls.
Becky, I would never try to tell you or anyone else what to do where their health is concerned, but I just wanted to let you know, that most supportive PCP's, as long as they are willing to help you, could handle your care.
Good Luck
Debbie J
Duncan patient
01-14-02 lap-rny
01-14-02 leak repair surgery (non smoker, non steroid taker)
01-29-02 surgery to see if I had another leak, NO thank goodness
SEVERE COMPLICATIONS!!!
45 days in ICU, 33 days kept alive via ventilator
30 days in a rehab hospital, had to learn to walk again
Now one happy girl..........LUCKY to be alive!
Hey, Debbie,
Thanks for your response! I did get the results today - low iron. Dr. Fields is calling in a prescription for me. I will be going to my regular PCP from now on. I love Dr. Bakshi, my PCP, but her office has an evil fax machine as well. It will definitely be closer though!
I appreciate your input!
Hugs,
Becky
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