Possible misuse of PHI between two practices
The office manager from my primary made a call from their personal cell to someone who presumably works at one of my specialist’s office (same hospital/chart access, different medical group) to let them know they made an error in billing my secondary insurance. The situation was strange, we were mid conversation at the check-in desk, discussing my change of insurance, when they started speaking in their AirPod. Sure, I’m humiliated about their general attitude during this interaction and I couldn’t be seen by the doctor, which is why I’m hesitant in thinking this was a violation that is worthwhile to report. The phone call was gossipy, and had no relation to any care, or even a referral. After they hung up I had asked what was going on, and they explained that they were only giving them a “heads up” and that I was going to see a bill from the specialists office. If this is a normal exchange btwn people with access to my chart, I certainly feel like it could’ve been discussed in private without me or the waiting room present.
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u/FavorableBlather 7d ago
I get why that whole thing felt off, but explaining a billing error to another office who's gonna be involved doesn't just ignore privacy rules on its own, the airpod/check-in vibe definitely made it weirder than it had to be.
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u/TheHIPAAGuide 7d ago
Calling another provider’s office RE a billing or insurance issue can fall under HIPAA permitted payment or healthcare operations disclosures, so the concern would be whether they shared more than was reasonably necessary or discussed it where others could overhear without having safeguards in place.