Ethics

Medical Record Paparazzi

Ahnald is angry and calling for tighter medical record security after his records, his wife’s and those of 32 other celebrities were breached.  The ex-Terminator told the Los Angeles Times that he’s been a victim of unauthorized snooping following heart, hip and shoulder operations.

Is that any surprise? I’m sure it happens all the time, whether it be medical, police or other public institution records. It’s politically convenient to raise the issue as part of a broader healthcare platform.

The former Conan the Barbarian said that every time he left the operating room he was told that people were going through his file. They had white coats on and snuck into the hospital, "They had nothing to do with the hospital staff at all," he told the Times.

California's health department said the agency would sanction the UCLA Medical Center after confirmation that improper hospital workers had accessed medical records of more than 60 patients.  In the past, a handful of UCLA employees were fired after an audit showed patients medical records had been violated. 

Posted by Shawn Whalen on April 11, 2008 at 1:55 PM
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Frankenstein vs. BC CA

E-newsletter FierceHealthcare reported on Blue Cross of CA's attempt to enlist doctors to help expose patient’s healthcare discrepancies in order to cancel policies (read below). This is of course troubling, though not surprising (do health plans have ulterior motives like this in pushing PHRs?) 

Even more troubling is the existence of Dr. Frankenstein, who is head of the California Medical Association. This Dr. Richard Frankenstein was “outraged” by Blue Cross’ action.  I would be careful Blue Cross. Dr. Frankenstein doubtless has powerful progeny who you do not want to meet on a dark and stormy night, unless you have a lot of torches.

“Blue Cross of California has raised eyebrows around the state, and sparked protests from some physician groups, by sending medical groups applications filled out by beneficiaries and asking the doctors, in effect, if the patients lied about their health. With the applications, which went out to large medical groups who have capitation contracts with the health plan, Blue Cross advised doctors to narc on patients who had any conditions not listed on the applications. This is just the latest in the plan's attempts to aggressively weed out sick patients. Blue Cross has already faced the ire of regulators for issuing policies then canceling them when the patients incur big medical bills.

The Good Doctor, Before His Outrage

The letter and accompanying application "outraged" the California Medical Association, according to president Dr. Richard Frankenstein. He argues that with doctors in the role of police, patients may be afraid to share their whole medical history with doctors, putting their health at risk. The association has sent a letter to state regulators asking them to order Blue Cross to stop asking doctors for patient information. A spokesperson for the state insurance commissioner said that while their office hadn't gotten any complaints about the letter, they consider it "extremely troubling," in that it effectively places doctors in the role of underwriters.”

The Villain of our Tale

Post Script.  A few weeks later, BlueCross of California relented before the outrage of Dr. Frankenstein and his physician minions. Policy changed. Happy ending.

Posted by Shawn Whalen on April 1, 2008 at 6:06 AM
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Profitceuticals

While public and private interest groups wring their hands about the ever-increasing cost of drugs, one drug list publisher quietly wields monumental impact on pricing.  First DataBank, a unit of Hearst Corp., publishes a benchmark list of pharmaceutical prices that health plans and state Medicaid programs use as a guide.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal on Oct. 6, First DataBank reached a legal settlement in a case of price gouging. Implicated was McKesson, who is the only company that First DataBank "surveys" to arrive at price averages. As a result of the settlement, prices on many of the most common drugs will be lowered.

This is an egregious example of unmonitored pricing, one which when addressed does more to help alleviate pricing than all the excuses of pharma executives.

Posted by Shawn Whalen on October 8, 2006 at 4:34 PM
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Posted by Shawn Whalen on April 3, 2006 at 9:10 PM