Please Share Your “HIPAA Hurt Me” Story
Please SHARE YOUR STORY about refusing to sign HIPAA. This means the HIPAA privacy form or the HIPAA acknowledgement statement signifying receipt of the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP).
We need as many stories about what happens when patients refuse to sign the form, as they are lawfully allowed to do, particularly if you are denied care, made to feel bad, made to miss your appointment or are hurt in any other way. Or perhaps you’re a practitioner and your hospital or ACO system is requiring you to deny care to those who exercise their right to refuse.
HIPAA Hurt Me
By law, you have a RIGHT to REFUSE to sign the HIPAA Form and the HIPAA acknowledgement statement signifying receipt of the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP). The federal government has publicly stated that you have a right to refuse, and no law requires your signature. This includes the right to refuse to sign the form or statement even after the hospital or clinic staff writes “refused” on it.
NOTE: Refusing to sign does not provide you with any privacy protection. Under HIPAA, according to the federal government, there are potentially 2.2 million entities (including 1.5 million "business associates") that could be given access to your private data without your consent.
However, if you do NOT sign, and if your data is then broadly shared without your consent and you complain about the disclosure or use of your data, the clinic staff or attorneys will not be able to say that you signed the form acknowledging that you know your data can be shared broadly under HIPAA. The staff will not be able to tell you that it was your responsibility not to share confidential data with your doctor. They will not be able to blame YOU for sharing data that they disclose without your consent.
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. Be gentle but firm. Consider contacting us to request wallet-size cards to give to the staff.
NOTE: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a web page that says exactly what the clinic and hospital are supposed to do when you lawfully refuse to sign the HIPAA form or the HIPAA acknowledgement statement.
CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY
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.
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.”
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.
Press Releases
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February 07, 2019
ST. PAUL, Minn.—One of the resolute aims of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) has been to educate Americans that the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act “Privacy Rule” really isn’t about privacy at all.
Health Freedom Watch
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September 05, 2018
HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH
Volume 21: Issue 3: 3rd Quarter 2018
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