Is this typical?

[Eilan]

Today my hubby and I got a bill from our local medical clinic (oldest child's ear infection visit from last March). At the bottom of the bill was the following:

Effective January 1, 2006, ******** will implement the following change in our registration process.
Every patient will be requested to present a photo ID along with their insurance information at each visit to the Clinic.
If a photo ID is not available, two forms of identification will be required along with your insurance information.
Thank you for your understanding of this change in our process.

Why do I need to present a photo ID to see the doctor? And since my kids don't have photo ID, do I have to bring their birth certificates and Social Security Cards?

I know these are questions I should be asking the medical facility, not you guys, but I was wondering if the rest of you had to present photo ID's at the doctor's office. Is this a new trend? Homeland security issue?

Thoughts?

 

[Guest]

 

[TBKahuna123]

We have not experienced this, and my wife has been to several different doctors lately. They always want to see the medical ID card, but never been asked for a photo ID.

Ditto here. I wonder though, and this is total speculation, but could this be an attempt to stop Medicaid or insurance fraud? I can't think of any other reason.

 

[Eilan]

I wonder though, and this is total speculation, but could this be an attempt to stop Medicaid or insurance fraud? I can't think of any other reason.

Could be. I hadn't thought of that. It's a for-profit facility, but this is a rural area with a high poverty rate. There's a very large Medicaid and uninsured population.

My driver's license, which is up for renewal this year, still has my old married name on it, though my medical chart and insurance information is under my hubby's last name.

My mom's an employee, and she's been to the doctor since the new year started, so I'll ask her this evening.

*edit--I wonder what would happen if I had a photo ID but no insurance? Or if I had neither?

 

[only_more_so]

I am betting this is for insurance fraud reasons. For the same reason that a gym I used to go to required showing ID as well as the membership card to prevent people from sharing.

I would assume that the name on the insurance card has to match the name on the ID. So you wouldn't need your children's ID if they covered under your name. The difficulty comes when you have a different name than what is on your ID. For those purposes you might need to show a copy of your marriage certificate/divorce cerificate as proof of your name change. The next time you make an appointment to see the doctor, ask them what constitutes valid ID.

 

[EJFan]

my guess is that it's part of the new patient confidentiality laws... just a guess though. i know that over the last couple of years things have gotten a lot more stringent in the realm of who can see medical records, who can pick up prescriptions and things like that.

if memory serves, these new laws have even compelled many doctor's offices to change their fixtures... patient files can't be accidentally seen by others who happen past.

 

[EJFan]

*edit--I wonder what would happen if I had a photo ID but no insurance? Or if I had neither?

you'd make a fine migrant farm worker. that's what'd happen.




shit... is this beyond the tenth post?

 

[SweetErika]

In addition to fraud and privacy, they may want the info for financial reasons. They might cross-reference it with the contact info they have for the patients each visit to guard against out of date, bogus, or incomplete info, and possibly make collecting on non-payers easier. I think they do this at one of our local hospitals (or at least in the ER).

 

[Emerald Eyed]

With your kids, my guess is that you will be able to present your ID for them.

 

[onlyerics]

I'm thinking that it's for better identification purposes. In the hospital, there are two ways we can identify our patients. Social security and date of birth.
In the lab, we don't know what our patients look like, but that's how we ID them. We also look at their hospital account number. Maybe having an picture ID is another way to positively ID the patient.

I know when a person goes in for a drug screen for employment purposes, we ask them for their ID and social number and then we make a copy, which is reasonable.

I never heard of presenting kids' photo ID though.

What did your mom say?

 

[Eilan]

What did your mom say?

When I talked to my mom last night, I forgot to ask her. My grandma's having some health issues at the moment and it completely slipped my mind.

I'd wonder if they'd refuse to see a patient who didn't have any ID whatsoever. I worked there as a medical records clerk a long time ago, and I know that they'll refuse to see patients for various reasons (e.g. bankruptcy, not paying medical bills, abusive behavior, drug-seeking behavior, etc.).

 

[Willing and Unsure]

I dont have to show an I.D. every time I go to the doctor. The first time I went to one out here, they asked to see a photo I.D. which seemed reasonable enough to me just to verify that I really am who I say I am. As for the insurance information, they normally ask me every time I'm there to sign a form saying that I agree that all the information I've provided (the form has the info printed on it) is accurate and that the form is legally binding if it is not. So I guess it's basically the same thing.

 

[Eilan]

I finally talked to my mom this evening.

She's not entirely sure, because she doesn't have contact with the public, but she's heard that it's likely for fraud prevention, to prevent patients from assuming someone else's identity in order to receive medical care.

Her impression is that it's a rule that's pretty inconsistently enforced.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[boston_bbw]

The only recent photo ID I have shown was at the hospital but was for a scheduled procedure I imagine to make sure they had my info correct and not to be sure someone wasn't trying to impersonate me to get my ovarian cyst surgery.. or preop work done...lol I do show my medical card at each Dr. visit when I see her for a office visit when sick but never a photo ID

 

[Mr. Mann]

It sounds like it as an issue with the insurance. They want to

1) make sure that you are the insured/covered party, and
2) get information for debt collection purposes for any amounts that aren't covered by insurance

HIPAA has numerous security and privacy provisions intended to safeguard patient informaiton.

If privacy is a concern at medical offices, I might suggest using a passport as photo ID since it does not include a physical address, allowing some privacy as to your physical residence. It does contain your DOB. If they want a copy of your passport for their records, then cary one with you. Make a photo copy and mark out the DOB with "white out" then make a copy of that copy. This should suffice in most instances.

Personally, I try to avoid using my SSN as any type of identifier. Any place should be able to use another number instead of an SSN and should understand your desire to safeguard such personal private information to safeguard against identity theft, fraud, and other personal security concerns.

The other alternative is to pay cash and not use insurance... but this is just not financially possible for most of us.

If the office insists on basically collecting informaiton for credit purposes, then politely ask them some questions about what they do to safeguard your personal identifying informaton. - If you have unique privacy and security concerns, then ask that some exception be made. It is done all the time for celebrities and certain executives. It can certainly be done for others, as well.

 

[jadefirefly]

And usually, with kids, since they're minors and aren't legally required (or able, I think, least not till drivers permit time!) to have a photo ID, your ID will cover it.

The first time after the policy is implemented, they might ask for, like, the kids social security card or something, just to make sure the names match up, I dunno. I think an SS card is really the only sort of ID one can expect a kid to have.

Since the kid isn't legally responsible for the medical bills or medical insurance, they're probably going to want ID for the one who is.

 

[only_more_so]

And usually, with kids, since they're minors and aren't legally required (or able, I think, least not till drivers permit time!) to have a photo ID, your ID will cover it.

Actually, no one in the US is actually required to have a photo ID, or an ID of any sort really. Most people have driver's licenses so they can drive, or state granted photo ID's so they can purchase liquor or otherwise provide proof of ID that so many things require these days. A woman I used to work with was told by her husband it was required by law that a person has a photo ID on them at all times, even when jogging. I said it is a very good idea, but there is no such law.

Kids can have photo ID, namely passports. Although passports for kids expire like every two years (I believe).

 

[jadefirefly]

Actually, no one in the US is actually required to have a photo ID, or an ID of any sort really. Most people have driver's licenses so they can drive, or state granted photo ID's so they can purchase liquor or otherwise provide proof of ID that so many things require these days. A woman I used to work with was told by her husband it was required by law that a person has a photo ID on them at all times, even when jogging. I said it is a very good idea, but there is no such law.

Kids can have photo ID, namely passports. Although passports for kids expire like every two years (I believe).

Well, yes, there are people in AZ who believe it's actually law that they carry ID at all times, students and children included.

I think I phrased that badly. My intent was that they have no reason to be required to have an ID -- i.e., they don't need to drive, apply for credit, sit for jury duty, etc. They have no reason to -be- required to have one, unless the folks are takin' 'em out of country.

I didn't really mean that everyone else needs one by law -- only that there are so many things that can't really be legally done without one.

 

[only_more_so]

Well, yes, there are people in AZ who believe it's actually law that they carry ID at all times, students and children included.

I think I phrased that badly. My intent was that they have no reason to be required to have an ID -- i.e., they don't need to drive, apply for credit, sit for jury duty, etc. They have no reason to -be- required to have one, unless the folks are takin' 'em out of country.

I didn't really mean that everyone else needs one by law -- only that there are so many things that can't really be legally done without one.

I wasn't quite sure which was the case. I am glad you knew they weren't required, although they are getting more and more necessary. Where has the trust gone? LOL

 

[Magic_Dick]

This thread makes me glad I'm Canadian. I rarely even have to bring my medical card, let alone any type of I.D.

 

[eudaemonia]

The cynic in me wants to vent spleen about the incessant paranoia creep caused by the passage of the (un)Patriot Act, but I have to remember check my tounge/keyboard at the door to Lit.

Now that I've disable my rant button, the verbiage on the printed bill is probably standard legalese and my guess is with the care providers you mostly frequent they'll just nod in recognition rather than go through the motions.

MagicDick, It'll be interesting to see if there's an ensuing hue-and-cry by the Canadian parliament for increased ID checking in the face of the latest round of arrests of "home-grown terrorists."

 

[Eilan]

Shit, I'd forgotten about this thread. I had to take my 8-year-old to this clinic's Urgent Care facility at the end of March. Nobody asked me for ID--just my insurance card.

I have a feeling that the rule's not being consistently enforced.

 

[Raidho]

I do hospital admissions, and it's coming from both sides.

The insurance comanies want us to ask for ID .. basically, if it's insurance fraud, the hospital loses out on payment.

Even the non-insured are pressured for ID. Unpaid bills *are* reported to the credit agencies, and it's listed under SSNs.

Oh, and the part about the ID not showing an address? Doesn't matter. Our hospital is connected with some sort of credit reporting agency that can verify your last known address. Every time we register someone, a window pops up to verify addresses.

If someone has a PO box, we're "required" to ask for a physical address.

That creeps me out. We're a not-for-profit facility, and I don't think it's any of the hospital's damned business where someone lives if they give a PO box. I mean, that's where their bills go, right?

We're evaluated on accuracy. If a manager pulls the "verify address" up and it doesn't matched, we have a mark against our work record.

I had so many of them, she asked if I was doing the verification at all, and I told her no. Someone asked why they needed a physical address when the bills were being sent to the PO Box, and asked if the hospital was going to send Guido for their house. At that point, I realized that it was an invasion of privacy and refused to do it. I mentioned that the patient was going mentioning a lawyer, and I never received another error after that.

And, for the record, at least at my hospital, HIPA's a joke. Helll, we have registration terminals in the main walkways of the ER.

 

[eudaemonia]

And, for the record, at least at my hospital, HIPA's a joke. Helll, we have registration terminals in the main walkways of the ER.

What's "HIPA" and why is it a joke?

Thank you, Raidho, for taking the time to explain this.

Mind if I PM you with a couple of questions? Not for advice, just the why and how of something.

 

[Guttergoddess]

HIPPA

Health Insurance Privacy and Portability Act (I believe of 1992, passed in 96)

Basically HIPPA states that the doctor cannot share your confidential information with others without your express consent. All offices must provide you with a copy of their policy. And you have to sign a form stating that you read and received (noone reads) and also usually listing one person you allow your info to be released to. I laughingly tell patients (I work in an eye doctors') that we can't tell anyone that they wear glasses. The truth of the matter is that if in taking their history, we found that they had, say AIDS, we couldn't tell anyone, even if say my daughter was dating this person.

HIPPA also states that the doctor must make the "best effort" to keep the info confidential, so that means that EVERY employee of the practice signs a confidentiality agreement. If the practice uses an outside cleaning service, they must also sign one, the company they use to electronically transmit claims, the collection agency, the list goes on and on. In the "best effort" category is locking the file room at night, charts not being left on desks...etc. In our practice, "privacy" is not as crucial as say an STD clinic. There they also usually have seperate waiting rooms, and sign in sheets are peel off stickers.

LMAO now that I bored you with more info than you cared about...I'll let you go back to your regularly scheduled life.