| p>The question in the title seems to beg a yes | | | | may be copied and introduced in court. Unless |
| answer. However, truth is, there are two answers | | | | sealed, court documents are public records. This is |
| with the real one a shocker. At least it was to | | | | one way unscrupulous people discover social |
| me. | | | | security numbers. |
| The “begged” answer is of course | | | | 9. Health research – Sometimes your |
| yes. It would be yes if you never let anyone | | | | medical record is used for health research and |
| have information about your health and medical | | | | when it is, it may be disclosed to health agencies |
| condition(s). But, in the real world, this is impossible. | | | | such as the Centers for Disease Control. Most of |
| The real answer, unfortunately, is NO. And to add | | | | the time your name is not part of the record but, |
| insult to injury, it is real in more ways than one as | | | | nonetheless, it is YOUR record. |
| you are about to learn. | | | | 10. Licensure and accreditation of hospitals or |
| As I dug into the research material for this article, | | | | physicians by certain boards or agencies. Again, |
| my eyes popped out and my jaw dropped open. | | | | your identity may or may not be part of the |
| The number of eyes that could potentially see | | | | records evaluated. But, one more time, it is YOUR |
| your complete medical history (read complete | | | | record. |
| record) is staggering. | | | | 11. Direct marketers may receive your health |
| The line starts at the government and runs the | | | | information if you participate in informal health |
| gamut to bill collectors. Yes, you read that right, | | | | screenings like cholesterol tests, blood pressure, |
| bill collectors. | | | | and other type of “free” medical |
| Here, with a brief explanation of each, is a list of | | | | screenings you may have seen conducted in your |
| “eyes” that could see your medical | | | | local mall. |
| records. I’d bet many of them already | | | | 12. Health related web sites, Usenet news groups |
| have. | | | | and chat rooms may contain your medical |
| 1. The most obvious is your doctor, | | | | information. Granted, you have to share it but |
| doctor’s nurse and office staff. Most | | | | once put on the Internet, it has a magical way of |
| people’s medical records are on kept at | | | | propagating throughout the universe. |
| the doctor’s office. | | | | 13. Survey companies not only use the Internet |
| 2. Hospital – If you have ever been | | | | but mail and the phone to conduct medical |
| hospitalized, you have a set of records at the | | | | question surveys. Many of them are very detailed. |
| hospital. | | | | If you share your information, it is out there for |
| 3. Insurance Companies – If you have ever | | | | whomever to use. |
| applied for health, life or disability insurance, those | | | | 14. Tenant screening services screen prospective |
| companies have access to your records no | | | | tenants for property managers. Their checks are |
| matter where kept. | | | | extremely extensive. Although health records are |
| 4. The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) – | | | | not on the list, there is no specific law prohibiting a |
| Most people have never heard of this non-profit | | | | property manager from asking for this |
| membership organization. However, it is the | | | | information in addition to everything else. |
| largest repository of health records in the free | | | | Note: I have set up a special page dealing with |
| world. Located in Essex, MA, its membership is | | | | health and credit resources at: |
| about 750 U.S. and Canadian Insurance Companies. | | | | As I locate to-the-point resources and websites, I |
| MIB does not have the same copies as your | | | | will put them on this page. |
| doctor. Rather they codify you according to | | | | You do have sort of a guardian angel to help you |
| certain health conditions. You can get a free copy | | | | if you are having problems in regard to your |
| of your record by visiting their website: In the | | | | health records. I say sort of because if you |
| alternative you can call, 1-866-692-6901 or for the | | | | become involved in litigation over your medical |
| hearing impaired, 1-866-346-3642. By the way, | | | | records, this source cannot represent you in |
| MIB is subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act | | | | court. |
| (FCRA). This is important to know. | | | | Each state has an Insurance Commissioner. |
| 5. Government agencies such as Social Security, | | | | He’s your “big brother” in a |
| Veteran’s Administration, MediCal, Workers | | | | good sense. The National Association of Insurance |
| Compensation, Medicare, etc. | | | | Commissioners has a website, [ that talks about |
| 6. Medical Collection Agencies – Pay | | | | the privacy laws in your state. Visit their site. |
| attention because these agencies may have | | | | Unfortunately, this arena is still like the Wild West |
| in-depth medical information in their data bases. If | | | | in terms of legislation and privacy protection and |
| this one doesn’t set your hair on fire, you | | | | the fact it is getting better is of little comfort to |
| don’t have a pulse. | | | | anyone whose privacy has been violated. |
| 7. Your employer may have asked you to | | | | If you don’t like the medical scenario as it |
| authorize them accessing your medical records. | | | | exists, you just might wish to chat with your |
| The potential employer has the right to ask for | | | | government representative, state and federal, |
| medical information as part of an employment | | | | and tell him/her to take a close look at reform in |
| background check. The employer faces certain | | | | this area. |
| restrictions but not many if you authorize the | | | | And, because you have read this article, you are |
| access. | | | | better armed than 95% of the American |
| 8. Believe it or not, your medical records may be | | | | population. You now can begin taking steps to |
| subpoenaed for a court case if you are involved | | | | protect your medical privacy. |
| in litigation. Those relevant parts of your record | | | | |