Please Share Your 'HIPAA Story'
Tell us what happened to you when you lawfully refused to sign the HIPAA form at the doctor's office, hospital, pharmacy or health care facility. This means the 'HIPAA privacy form' or the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) acknowledgement statement signifying that you've read, received or understood the NPP.
This statement could be:
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Given to you as a separate "HIPAA privacy form'
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Embedded in the official 'consent to treat' form
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Found as a signature line at the bottom of the clinic or hospital's Notice of Privacy Practices form
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A single screen on an electronic tablet
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Never seen, but you're requested to sign an electronic pad
To better understand and explain what is happening in exam rooms across the country, we would like as many stories as possible about what happens when patients refuse to sign the HIPAA form or choose to cross out the NPP acknowledgement statement — as they are lawfully allowed to do.
We particularly want to hear from you if you were denied care, chastised or shamed, forced to miss your appointment or were hurt in any other way.
Or perhaps you’re a doctor or nurse or other clinician and your hospital or ACO system is requiring you to deny care to those who exercise their right to refuse.
Click here to SHARE YOUR STORY.
Right to Refuse
By law, you have the right to refuse to sign the HIPAA Form and/or the HIPAA acknowledgement statement signifying receipt or understanding of the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP). Clinics and other health care facilities are simply required to "make a good faith effort" to get you to sign it.
FACT: The federal government has publicly stated that you have a right to refuse, and no law requires your signature. This includes your right to even refuse to write the word “refused” on the form.
HHS requires the health care facility to write refused, sign and date it. Not you.
Click here to read HHS Instructions on signing or refusing to sign the NPP.
Refusing to sign does not provide you with any privacy protection. According to a 2010 HHS rule, 1.5 million "business associates" and many others could be given access to your identifiable data without your consent if those who hold your data (hospitals, clinics, labs, health plans, etc.) choose to share it.
HHS: "Refusing to sign the acknowledgement does not prevent a provider or plan from using or disclosing your health information as HIPAA permits."
However, if you do NOT sign, and if your data is then broadly shared without your consent, and if you complain about that disclosure, the clinic staff or its attorneys:
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Will not be able to say that you signed the form acknowledging that you know your data can be shared broadly under HIPAA.
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Will not be able to tell you that it was your responsibility not to share confidential data with your doctor.
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Will not be able to blame you for sharing data that they disclose without your consent.
Was treatment denied? If you refuse to sign the HIPAA privacy form, some clinics or doctors or hospitals may refuse to provide treatment to you or your children. This is in clear violation of your rights — but we have discovered that they may not know you have that right. Their attorneys may have led them to believe that failure to get your signature will lead to a HIPAA violation and a financial penalty. Please be gentle but firm in your refusal. Contact us at CCHF to request wallet-size HIPAA cards to share.
What Health Care Facilities Are Required To Do: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a web page that says exactly what the clinic, hospital, or other facility are required to do when you lawfully refuse to sign the HIPAA form or the HIPAA acknowledgement statement. This web page includes "the right to complain to HHS and the organization if you believe your privacy rights have been violated." Click here to file a HIPAA complaint with HHS.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY
CCHF Statements
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March 17, 2023
Rationing of medical care is not limited to government programs and health plans. Ten former football players are suing the NFL for failing to recognize their rightful claim to disability benefits.
The players’ affidavit details the NFL’s failure to live up to the organization’s contractual promise to support players with injuries sustained from “investing themselves in the sport.” With an average of 159 concussions per regular season and many additional serious injuries, players depend heavily on the promise of disability benefits.
CCHF has submitted a FOIA request to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Our request asks for any documentation that OCR has received or sent to physicians and other providers regarding providing care to patients who refuse to sign the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Our goal with this request is to understand any abuses that are happening under the law, as well as to better equip patients to decline to sign the Notice of Privacy Practices.
Press Releases
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April 19, 2021
ST. PAUL, Minn. — In this, the 25th year since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted, the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) has a message for Congress: Repeal the “HIPAA privacy rule.”
Multimedia
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April 14, 2021
On this, the 18th anniversary of the so-called federal HIPAA "privacy" rule, CCHF's president Twila Brase answers the questions that most people have about HIPAA, exposing the myth that HIPAA protects privacy. Click here to watch the video.
Projects
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April 01, 2021
The year 2021 is the 25th anniversary of HIPAA, the law that eliminated patient privacy rights. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed on August 21, 1996. The so-called “HIPAA privacy rule” went into effect on April 14, 2003. To show how little privacy you have, here are 25 ways HIPAA harms you.
Press Releases
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June 03, 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn.—For much of its 20-plus-year existence, Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) has worked to educate patients, policy makers, the media, medical professionals and even Congress that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) “Privacy Rule” isn’t about privacy at all.
Press Releases
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May 01, 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn.—“Big Brother in the Exam Room: The Dangerous Truth About Electronic Health Records,” written by Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) president and co-founder Twila Brase, RN, PHN, is a finalist for two separate Midwest Book Awards. UPDATE: On May 4, the book WON the "Social Issues/Political Issues/Culture" category!
Press Releases
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March 11, 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Reader Views announced today that “Big Brother in the Exam Room: The Dangerous Truth About Electronic Health Records,” written by Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) president and co-founder Twila Brase, RN, PHN, has received a first-place honor in the 2018-2019 Literary Awards.
Press Releases
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February 19, 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a Request for Information (RFI) on “Modifying HIPAA Rules To Improve Coordinated Care,” and Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) took the opportunity to share its concerns and ideas before the OCR issues a proposed rule to change the HIPAA rule.
ALPHA NEWS published CCHF's Commentary: NFL rationing of medical care exposed by 10-player lawsuit
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