Maybe disclose your bk, But What About Medical Records?

[lillymarlene]

I am presently looking for part or fulltime work to supplement my income. I am allright with disclosing my bankruptcy (if I have to, because a credit check may be run) but what about medical records?

I recently made the mistake of mentioning to my Primary Care Physician, that I have attended meetings of a certain 12 step group. I found this out because at the medical center I use, when you make a new appointment, they sometimes hand you a printout of recent test results, or comments from your physician.

This doctor mentioned that this certain "illness" appears to be in remission. Then, by the way, I have never been treated by her or anyone else for this "condition," never missed work or had any legal troubles because of this problem. You could also say the last time this "condition" could have been called "active" with me was over 30 years ago!

I am presently looking for a new physician, but does anybody know how to get something taken off a medical record? I have not been employed outside of my family's enterprise for years, but now I feel that everything is against me before I even start.

[mountanddo]

I guess I don't understand. I've been to 12 step meetings and I don't have an "illness". People go to these meetings for all kinds of reasons not just because they are addicted. It sounds like you may have disclosed to your doctor that you were going due to having a problem. Nevertheless, this really is not any prospective employers business and they can't get a hold of your medical records without your permission. There is no reason to disclose anything except if you need accommodations to do the job you are applying for. Even then they can't deny you employment based on that.

I know that people have differing opinions on this but unless an employer specifically asked on an application and there was a good reason to do so about my bankruptcy I wouldn't offer up that information either. Unless you need to be bonded there really isn't a reason why an employer shouldn't hire you due to a bankruptcy. Just my 02 on the whole situation.

[AngelinaCat]

The The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) prohibits any medical person from disclosing any information about you to anyone else. Even your spouse cannot be told of your medical condition without your specific permission. We had an insurance question regarding my recent fall, and I wanted 'Hub to talk to the hospital billing department. But the person would not talk to him w/o me sitting right there, stating that I gave my permission.

Here is a link to more information on HIPAA:

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/index.html

As far as getting anything removed from your record, I don't think you can. When I was having problems trying to buy health insurance after my COBRA ran out, because the insurance companies DO look at your record, which state only that you have XX pre-existing condition, but they don't list degrees of condition. I have several pre-existing conditions, that are very, very mild for which no treatment is necessary, but I still got turned down for insurance because I had them. And I could not get them removed from my record, because I actually have the conditions, or had had treatment in the past.

This is what was explained to me by my primary care physician, when I made an appointment, expressly to talk with him regarding my problems in getting health coverage.

I realize that this may be a little bit different than your situation. I hope this helps.

[lillymarlene]

Thanks for the replies. As I said before, I'm looking for another physician, this one really is a jerk. I swear she looks for things, to jump all over, maybe to make herself extra money or she's deathly afraid of being sued. Once I mentioned some mild condition, that I had when I was 14 years old, something that I was tested for 5 years ago, and told by the specialist not to bother re-testing this for another ten years from that date. Of course she insisted I should be tested again since I had something many years ago and though I've had no trouble since (of course I didn't bother.)

Anyway, I just don't get a good feeling about this woman. Ever since, I've had decent health insurance, for about a year now, it seems she has been itching to order any test she can think of.

Then I know about the HIPPA act, but the only problem is that medical records, seem too much like credit reports. I'm afraid that if a prospective employer asks for access to either one, and you deny them, it just looks like you're hiding something. Too, if you allow access and they don't like what they see, of course they can claim they didn't hire you for another reason.

I'm lucky to be in this state for health insurance, though. I don't believe that insurers here can deny people for pre-existing conditions.

[LadyInTheRed]

lillymarlene, I have never been asked by a prospective employer for authorization for them to access my medical records. Have you? Has anyone else here? The only medically related questions I have ever been asked is if I smoke and if I can lift a certain amount of weight.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Also, a good doctor will write down everything you tell them in your file. If you don't want something in your file, don't tell your doctor.

[Flamingo]

The only place you will have to disclose any previous medical history is to a new doctor or dentist for your own health and their care reasons or if your medical records are subpoenaed for for any reason, say, a personal injury or other lawsuit matter. No employer will ask for that information and if they do, it is against the law and you do not have to disclose anything. No employment application will ask for your past medical history. That information is all protected under the privacy laws mentioned above in the other posting(s) and cannot be disclosed or shared with anyone without your express permission.

[lillymarlene]

Thanks Lady and Flamingo. It does put me a little more at ease, if medical records are not something commonly asked for.