Need Advice on HIPPA

[C'wing]

My mother-in-law (from another country) came visit us this past summer. During her stay, she developed this SEVERE skin allergic reaction from a medicated patch she put on for muscle pain...so, we immediately took her to a dermatology clinic at a large hospital in our area.

Since she's not from here and doesn't have US health insurance, we paid for the total cost out of pocket (which was $$$). After she went back to her country, another part of the hospital bill arrived (I guess they do it here in US?). We took care of the bill (another $$$), and tried to get a copy of her record (total billing statement and medical record of what's been seen) so we could send it to her to file for her Health Insurance company back home. The Problem is: The Hospital wouldn't dispense the billing statement or anything related to us, even when she was registered under our address and phone number (I'm thinking it must has smth to do w/ HIPPA).

Is there anything we could do?

PS: My mother-in-law cannot speak any English (I was there to make an appt for her, translate during doctor's visit, make calls to hospitals...etc)

Please, any advice would be very much appreciated...

Thanks a lot in advance.

[jemb]

I would think all you would need would be a signed letter from her stating that she allows records to be released to you. The facility should have a form that she can sign to release the records.

Sometimes facilities prefer not to release information to 3rd party individuals, but will release them to insurance companies. If that is the case, they may want to send the records to her insurance directly.

[Nurse_Peachie]

It has everything to do with HIPPA. You will need to get a release of information form from the facility(ies) that she was treated at, mail them to your mother-in-law, she will need to fill them out (putting YOUR name as the person who is to pick up her records) and either mail them back to you or directly back to the facility(ies). When you go to pick them up, be sure to have a picture ID. You will be asked for that.

I hated attending the Level 3 HIPPA training... but I'm glad to see that it was put to good use. :)

Hope that helps.

[C'wing]

Thank you jemb and nurse peachie for your replies!

I've called the Hospital customer service and they told me to write a letter stating so and so authorize so and so to process her medical records....etc. I was a little confused with what info. exactly to be put down and the legality issue. I guess now I know about the consent form, I should call again and see if I could have them sent one over.

Thanks a lot for the help!