Fergie's Tech Blog

Medical Records Catch-22

Via The Zone Labs "Internet Security Zone" Blog.

This is a tough situation: While attempting to protect medical records, laws have actually made it harder to investigate medical fraud.

The LA Times reports on a recent incident in which a retired school teacher is billed for the alleged amputation of her right foot -- actually having to send notarized photos of that foot to prove the doctors didn't actually remove it!

How did all this happen? An ID thief actually assumed her identity to receive medical treatment, presumably having a foot removed and in the process rang up the bill the school teacher received. While attempting to investigate this case of ID Theft, the victim found that the very laws made to protect her medical privacy were interfering with her ability to investigate her own medical records.

posted by Fergie @ 10/05/2006 06:18:00 PM