<p>Erin’s dad - I got the original information from my attorney, who is a for profit lawyer, whose firm also has a website (not the one i included). Most law firms today have websites, from small operations to the best and the biggest. And, i’m pretty sure that unless they work for the government (DA’s office, etc) most lawyer’s try to work for a profit. In fact my attorney sent the forms to all of his clients who have children - on his stamp and not making a penny from it.</p>
<p>Arabrab - yes - it did and does happen. See page 87A of this document:</p>
<p>It is the report on the Virginia tech shootings.</p>
<p>Again - why take the chance - you can be lucky or not. And I won’t even discuss the case when there are divorced parents who have different points of view.</p>
<p>I printed out a form for an “authorized representative” for my insurance company, that authorizes them to talk to me or my husband about my 18 year-old’s medical issues, but I’m not sure what to do with it–send it to them? Have her carry it? She’s going abroad (tomorrow, er, later today, since it’s 1:30 AM) and I don’t even know what the privacy rules are elsewhere.</p>
<p>I would have her carry it. Keep a copy (or have her sign another one) for you to have. I also email myself (or whoever is relevant) a PDF of copies of important documents (passport, insurance card information, etc) that can be retrieved anywhere there is a computer.</p>
<p>My insurance company has a form that you can fill out on line where the 18 year old can authorize the policy holder (i.e. her parents) to view all medical records that they have. </p>
<p>What I can’t seem to control are the screwed up doctor’s billings. I just got a bill from a procedure that I had done over 13 months ago. Doctor’s office was willing to “settle” for the amount that he would have received from the insurance company if they didn’t deny it. Bill included three attempts at payment from the insurance company and it noted their response each time (the same each time). Of course I knew nothing of all this. I called the insurance company and the doctor’s office appears to have coded it incorrectly all three times, directly leading to the denials of payment. And of course the doctor’s bill to me notes that if I don’t pay it right away it will go to collection. I am not going to pay for the doctor’s billing company’s stupidity. Going to be an interesting phone conversation on Monday. </p>
<p>Sorry for going somewhat off topic. But if I am having issues with insurance companies, my daughter would be totally lost and at their mercy. So it is imperative that I be authorized to have access to her medical records (at least the billing part).</p>
<p>You and your husband should both keep a copy. This way, when something comes up, you can fax a copy to whoever you need to talk to at the time, then they can talk to you. Having her carry it won’t do anything for the insurance company. She should carry a little info sheet that has emergency contact names and numbers to be used if needed.</p>
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<p>This is so not true. After 25 years in the medical field, I have worked in I don’t know how many hospitals and dealt with I don’t know how many doctors offices. I have never, ever run across one that would not talk to a family member when the patient is <em>incapacitated</em>. Now I would not talk to any Tom, Dick or Jane that called on the phone wanting information. However, the next of kin (spouse, parents, kids) would always get our full attention as they have to be involved in the process to help direct care and therapy, consent to necessary procedures and be involved in the long term plans for after hospital care. Doing things to a patient, without either their or a representatives consent (except in cases of emergency where there is no time to obtain one), can constitute assault on the patient legally. We are <em>very</em> careful about always having family involved and on board with the direction of care. Now there are cases where multiple members of the immediate family are calling or showing up separately. In those cases, we request a single representative for us to deal with so that we can keep communication efficient and direct.</p>
<p>The concept that the medical profession would refuse to speak to family (absent specific direction from the patient to the contrary previously), when the patient is unable to speak for him/herself, is ludicrous.</p>