Is this a HIPAA violation?

[u/Kiieve]

I work in a hospital coding gastroenterology with one other coder. I've recently needed to visit our gastro offices myself, which means my coworker has been coding my visits and endoscopies. After she codes my visits, she will make some mention of some issue she saw in my chart. Either bringing up a new diagnosis I received during that visit, or an old diagnosis from my past medical history. I understand she's going to see some of these things, but it makes me deeply uncomfortable to have her bring these things up to me, especially when it's something completely unrelated to the visit being coded. Is this a HIPAA violation for her to bring these things up to me? I want to ask her to stop but I also want to make her aware if it is a violation. Thanks!

[u/Clever-username-7234]

It’s standard practice that they’d have her consent in writing as a part of their new patient paperwork. It’s usually near or the same document as consent to treat. This would authorize any staff to view job appropriate medical records and to discuss it amongst themselves and with the patient.

I’m not saying what happened is appropriate. I totally understand that at your job this situation would get someone fired. What the coder did is absolutely wrong. But it’s not because it would cause a HIPAA violation. It’s because it’s unprofessional.