SSN NOT REQUIRED FOR THE DOCTORS OFFICE OR HOSPITAL

When I arrived for that appointment, 
I was handed the standard new patient 
information form to complete. 

The receptionist asked me to provide him 
with my Social Security Number. 
The law does not require me to provide it. 
I will gladly provide my Pennsylvania Driver's License number.

Medical providers are not prohibited by State or Federal law 
from requesting a patient's Social Security Number, 
a patient is not legally required to provide it. 
No State or Federal law requires Medical providers 
to use a Social Security Number as an identification number. 
My Pennsylvania Driver's License number is just as 
unique as my Social Security Number and would equally 
differentiate me from any other patient.

The American Medical Association itself opposes the 
use of Social Security Numbers as an identification number. 
On May 6, 2002, the AMA approved Resolution # H-190.963, 
which specifically states that the "AMA policy is to 
discourage the use of Social Security Numbers to 
identify insureds, patients, and physicians, except 
in those situations where the use of these numbers 
is required by law and/or regulation." Since, there 
is no State or Federal law (or regulation) that 
required you to obtain my Social Security Number, 
your office policy requiring me to provide it is 
in direct contravention of the AMA's policy.

Your Privacy Rights

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA):

    * Covers medical information in any format�written, spoken, 
				or electronic
    * Allows patient to view, request changes to, and obtain 
				copies of health information documents
    * Provides protections regarding how your information
      can be used

Under HIPAA, you likely received a Notice of Privacy Practices 
when you visited a new healthcare provider or pharmacy. 
You would have been asked to sign a statement saying you�ve 
been given the notice. This Notice details your privacy rights, 
how your information is used and disclosed, and explains who 
will have access to your information.

Your Rights Under HIPAA:

    * Right to access, inspect, and copy health information
    * Right to request correction or amend health information
    * Right to request accounting of disclosures of health 
				information�who has received it

Here is an exercise for you. The next time someone demands that you  
disclose private information because "the law requires it", ask them  
for a citation to the statute or regulation that requires it. 
Ninety- eight percent of them time they will be unable to respond. 
Tell them that you will answer when they can give you the citation 
(and after you have had a chance to check it).

In a large number of cases, there is no such requirement. Companies  
often claim that "the law requires" that you do something that they  
simply want you to do. And even if the request is made in good faith,  
it is often the case that someone has misinterpreted a legal  
requirement somewhere.