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+--- Thread: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? (/Thread-doctor-can-t-provide-prescription-to-patient)
doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - odoyle - 01-30-2018
I asked for my sleep study results and prescription and they said they can't give it to me. Any idea what I should say to get a copy (which I think I'm allowed to?). I want to check a couple DMEs and don't want to ask them to fax info each time.. also I just want to see what it is.. any ideas?
Quote:"Per HIPPA policy we can only provide you with the results from sleep study, I was told we can't give you a copy of the prescription since its only used for insurance purpose."
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - paulag1955 - 01-30-2018
Was that response from a DME or from your doctor's office?
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - Marillion - 01-30-2018
Well, although I live in Canada and not the USA. I cannot see why they would deny giving you a copy of your prescription. But if that response is from your DME, you should be able to talk to your Doctor's office to get a copy of your prescription. It is YOUR prescription after all!
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - ghstudio - 01-30-2018
The company that does the sleep study is often much like a blood testing lab. They don't issue prescriptions nor do they provide you directly with the results or make recommendations on treatment. The results go to a doctor who interprets them and, if appropriate, writes a prescription.
If it's a doctor that's refusing to give you a copy of your prescription.....then you have a very unusual issue that you should discuss with appropriate state of federal authorities because you have a legal right to your records and you certainly have a right to get a prescription and have it filled wherever you'd like. I don't believe it's legal for a doctor to steer you to a specific DME/provider.
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - odoyle - 01-30-2018
Sorry guys, wasn't exactly clear in my original post, but this was the reply from the Doctor's office. So not the DME and not the sleep center. From what I understand, most DMEs will want a prescription + sleep study results. The doctor office said they could give me the sleep study results, but not the prescription, so before I call back and challenge that, I was hoping to be able to cite some patient rights law? They didn't even spell the HIPAA acronym correctly..
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - kiwii - 01-30-2018
I guess this is a start:
https://www.healthit.gov/patients-families/faqs/what-should-i-do-if-my-doctor-does-not-give-me-access-my-records
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - Walla Walla - 01-30-2018
I would talk to the Doctor first before reporting anything. Sometimes the front office people don't have a clue.
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - odoyle - 01-30-2018
Great, thanks for the link Kiwii. And yes, I agree it is probably a misunderstanding but when I call I want to understand my rights just in case they say no again. I couldn't tell if a prescription is actually part of records?
I also found this link useful https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/access/index.html
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - kiwii - 01-30-2018
Yes, I'm sure that you're right, that it is a misunderstanding.
I'm glad that you realized I meant the link for information about the rules. I wouldn't report them right off the bat either, although it is good to know that option is available. (and if you are met with determined resistance, then it wouldn't hurt to know the proper procedures so that you can counter)
RE: doctor can't provide prescription to patient? - SideSleeper - 01-30-2018
What exactly constitutes a prescription in the CPAP world? I have the instructions on my sleep study to the DME specifying the machine and settings. Is this enough or do we need a separate paper? I need to have this when we travel in case I need a replacement for a broken/forgotten item.