Ok, now I am really ticked off.
As most of you know, there has been increasing demand from diabetic supplies suppliers for copies of patients charts in order to satisfy Medicare. In the past, docs only had to complete a standard form stating we did indeed prescribe testing more than once a day and why. I have been battling with a local pharmacy that continues to demand I send them copies of the patient's chart for the last 2 years because of a Medicare audit. I have continued to refuse saying they have no right to any information other than what pertains to her diabetic supplies. They keep quoting me the HIPPA codes and I keep telling them I do not care about HIPPA, I care about the rights of my patient to protect her medical history from pharmacy techs and cashiers. I told them I would complete a form or draft a letter stating that I have prescribed TID-QID testing for this insulin-dependent diabetic but they continue to demand copies of her entire chart. Yesterday they told me if I did not send them they would "put a block on my NPI number" whatever the Hell that means. I again refused and told them I would release medical records to the patient and she can then do whatever the Hell she wants to with them. I am so sick of all these entities believing they have a right to patient information which has nothing to with them. Same with FMLA forms. I refuse to tell a family caretaker's employer my patient's medical history. We as physicians have GOT to step up to the plate and stop these kinds of intrusions.!!! We have GOT to embolden patients and employees. We have GOT to do what is right, not what is expected.
OK, climbing down now.
