Today's rant!

Lets all stop and take a breath, please! I am not now nor will I ever make light of identity theft or credit card theft....but lets be realistic about both please!! I hate that the media perpetuates the myth that everyone and anyone will steal your personal information. And now let me explain why I'm ranting about this...

I have done medical billing for 23 years now. Long time. I have seen drastic changes in health insurances, reimbursements, the software used, etc. As a medical office manager, I am bound by certain "rules" of the industry. Beginning this year, we have now been mandated for certain issues by the Federal Trade Commission of all people...because Medicare, Medicaid and the Federal Government weren't bad enough. The FTC passed on some things that had previously only been mandated to banks and other such lenders. And according to the FTC, although Medicare is one of the only insurances left to use social security numbers as identification, we do NOT have to file insurance for a patient if they do not give us their social security number. In essence, it is because we are a type of "lender" in filing claims to an insurance company on behalf of the patient. They have received services from us without money (other than applicable copays) out of their pocket. And now most of America is being told via the media to NOT give their SS #'s to anyone!! 

Because my life and job were not difficult enough, I now get to fight with crabby old people who are convinced that someone in a doctors office will steal their identity. And because so many offices will concede rather than push the issue, they know I won't turn them away either. And although I try to be kind and explain both why I need to have it and that my system does not share that information with anyone, I am often met with rude and unkind responses and flat out "too bad"s.

Again, I am not making light of having your identity stolen. I am certain it can be devastating. Lets just be smart in identifying where that might happen. Do you know that beginning in 2014, I have to maintain a written record of where every piece of every patient's record goes? From a claim form to their insurance company, to the notes back to their primary care physician, to a  prescription to a pharmacy or an order for some type of equipment or other services.

Thanks for listening.