Edit: Thanks to everyone for their replies. We decided to file a complaint and let the investigating agency decide if there was a violation.
A few months ago, my wife and I recently went through IVF. The fertility clinic makes it part of their process to test all patients for gonorrhea/chlamydia. No big deal, I guess. Our real issue is that the lab company sent the bill to my wife's workplace. It was addressed to her, but her workplace opened the bill. This was really embarrassing for my wife, because the HR lady saw the bill; it only showed a line item for "Chlamydia/GC Amplification". In an attempt to save face, she had to explain our infertility issues which is hard for her to do.
After making some phone calls, it appears that the fertility clinic filled the forms out correctly and the Lab company sent the bill to the wrong address. When I called them, they apologized and said they'd look into it. They followed up with us by sending a copy of the form the clinic sent in (which was filled out correctly). They claimed it was the clinic's fault, but the formed showed otherwise.
We were upset with this, but decided to just move on. That was all a few months ago.
Well, today, we received the other bill (I guess one for each of us. I don't know why this one took so long). This was, again, sent to my wife's workplace and again opened. Is this a HIPAA violation?
TealHousewife on September 25th, 2018 at 17:04 UTC »
I was really excited to witness HIPAA in action yesterday! I see a physical therapist at my doctor's office. It's basically in one room, and there are five PT assistants kind of working together to work with several patients. There was a man in with his leg in a very complicated brace, the kind you would usually have for something like a torn ACL. The lady next to me asked one of the assistants what was wrong with his leg. The assistant said, "I can't tell you, you'd have to ask him." The lady got all huffy about it and was like, "I don't want to ask him about that if I don't know him! It's embarrassing. Is his leg broken? I've never seen a cast like that." The assistant straight up told her, "I can't tell you what's going on with him. That's a HIPAA violation. I would never discuss your medical history with anyone, and I won't tell anyone else's medical history to you." The woman was super offended. The whole thing was extra hilarious because it's not a huge room and EVERYONE could hear the whole conversation. So much for not being embarrassing!
only1genevieve on September 25th, 2018 at 14:36 UTC »
This doubly sucks for LAOP because now her employer knows she's trying to get pregnant. Which legally shouldn't lead to repercussions for female employees but often does.
dazedwit on September 25th, 2018 at 13:50 UTC »
HIPPO law is best law.
After Tree Law and Hot Air Balloon Law