If only there was a tag that could adequately describe the decision of a submitter to link to a barebones AOL summary with a stupid internet survey embedded into the center of it rather than to the actual, original article from which the summary was ripped, a link to which is actually included in the summary itself.

Pocket Ninja: If only there was a tag that could adequately describe the decision of a submitter to link to a barebones AOL summary with a stupid internet survey embedded into the center of it rather than to the actual, original article from which the summary was ripped, a link to which is actually included in the summary itself.

Oh wait, there is!

Is the for Submitter or the story? I can't decide

What does the isurance cartoon girl look like?

Has anybody pointed out the irony that the Subby used the FAIL tag while simultaneously misspelling a word?

Pocket Ninja: If only there was a tag that could adequately describe the decision of a submitter to link to a barebones AOL summary with a stupid internet survey embedded into the center of it rather than to the actual, original article from which the summary was ripped, a link to which is actually included in the summary itself.

Look at it this way PN.... at least it wasn't a useless link to slashdot.

How about STUPID, DUMBASS or ASININE tag?

\\Hates the FAIL tag.

RumsfeldsReplacement: Has anybody pointed out the irony that the Subby used the FAIL tag while simultaneously misspelling a word?

2 words, actually.

However, bonus point for correct use of the apostrophe.

Still at -1, illeratemer.

But no, you can totally trust the private insurance industry with healthcare.

I think they got the idea from those magazine subscription postcards that you're supposed to write your credit card number on.

In other news did you know that you can submit FARK thread links?

As I have come to loathe insurance agencies over the years, I can't wait to see the HIPPA fines for unauthorized release of information applied to one.

/when I was in grad school, I had to study the security procedures of the medical records database kept by the college of pharmacy and suggest improvements. The HIPPA liability for accidental release of those records was greater than the worth of the University's assets.

Pocket Ninja: If only there was a tag that could adequately describe the decision of a submitter to link to a barebones AOL summary with a stupid internet survey embedded into the center of it rather than to the actual, original article from which the summary was ripped, a link to which is actually included in the summary itself.

LosinMySenses: Oh wait, there is!

Is the for Submitter or the story? I can't decide

RumsfeldsReplacement: Has anybody pointed out the irony that the Subby used the FAIL tag while simultaneously misspelling a word?

VvonderJesus: RumsfeldsReplacement: Has anybody pointed out the irony that the Subby used the FAIL tag while simultaneously misspelling a word?

2 words, actually.

However, bonus point for correct use of the apostrophe.

Still at -1, illeratemer.

Sigh. I really hate working for a company that only supports IE7, combined with IE7's lack of spell check in text boxes. Sorry, everyone. Sorry. I'll make sure I spell everything correctly next time so I can earn your approval.

TheHateMonger: Sorry. I'll make sure I spell everything correctly next time so I can earn your approval.

I wasn't bashing your spelling.

just2quixotic: As I have come to loathe insurance agencies over the years, I can't wait to see the HIPPA fines for unauthorized release of information applied to one.

/when I was in grad school, I had to study the security procedures of the medical records database kept by the college of pharmacy and suggest improvements. The HIPPA liability for accidental release of those records was greater than the worth of the University's assets.

There's some good points to HIPAA (you studied it but can't spell the acronym right?), but like SOX it also encourages businesses and legal departments to create some truly farked up, inefficient, and pointless work flows and processes.

Pocket Ninja: TheHateMonger: Sorry. I'll make sure I spell everything correctly next time so I can earn your approval.

I wasn't bashing your spelling.

Man, I'm off today. I quoted you intending to comment that I had taken the link from a Consumerist article and had missed the link to the actual article. My apologies. On the bright side, at least the original article is still available for submitting, so it can get another greenlight tomorrow.

Knara: just2quixotic: As I have come to loathe insurance agencies over the years, I can't wait to see the HIPPA fines for unauthorized release of information applied to one.

/when I was in grad school, I had to study the security procedures of the medical records database kept by the college of pharmacy and suggest improvements. The HIPPA liability for accidental release of those records was greater than the worth of the University's assets.

There's some good points to HIPAA (you studied it but can't spell the acronym right?), but like SOX it also encourages businesses and legal departments to create some truly farked up, inefficient, and pointless work flows and processes.

____________________

The law itself was incidental to my studies, and it has been a while so if I misremembered the acronym, I think I can be forgiven, and misspelling seems to be the order of the day in this thread.

That said, it appears that this insurance company could have used just one more pointless and farked up work flow or process to prevent this monumental screw up.

Knara: just2quixotic: As I have come to loathe insurance agencies over the years, I can't wait to see the HIPPA fines for unauthorized release of information applied to one.

/when I was in grad school, I had to study the security procedures of the medical records database kept by the college of pharmacy and suggest improvements. The HIPPA liability for accidental release of those records was greater than the worth of the University's assets.

There's some good points to HIPAA (you studied it but can't spell the acronym right?), but like SOX it also encourages businesses and legal departments to create some truly farked up, inefficient, and pointless work flows and processes.

I sell health insurance, and HIPAA compliance is a huge pain in the arse. The problem is that some of the rules contradict each other, so it is quite impossible to offer health insurance (at least in Wisconsin) without an employer, health insurance agent, and the insurance company technically violating HIPPA. For example, the state Insurance Commissioner requires employers to collect certain information on a state mandated health insurance application. Under HIPAA, your employer isn't supposed to ask for this information. I have to collect this information from the employer, but I'm not supposed to tell the employer any HIPAA protected information. You know, the information that I just collected from the employer.

As just2quizotic pointed out, the potential fines are draconian, they would put us out of business in an instant; not to mention potential jail time.

You have to love the laws that are so complex and arcane, that you can't help but violate them. At least enforcement has been selective and logical up till now. Thank god prosecutors are always logical, right?... right?

just2quixotic: That said, it appears that this insurance company could have used just one more pointless and farked up work flow or process to prevent this monumental screw up.

The insurance company is blaming its mailing vendor. However, the mailing vendor should have never had access to HIPAA protected information. Clearly the insurance company in this example is liable.

However, a law so farked up that it seems like it was designed by a committee consisting of Rube Goldburg and HR Giger is not required to punish stupidity.

Can you imagine the non-stop screaming if this was a government agency that did this?

"You can't trust them with your health care!1!1!1!"

Instead, it will be "the government gives your health care info to crappy companies!1!1!1!"

just2quixotic: That said, it appears that this insurance company could have used just one more pointless and farked up work flow or process to prevent this monumental screw up.

Nah, they get much more pointless than "don't put PHI in publicly available forms".

BigBooper: The problem is that some of the rules contradict each other, so it is quite impossible to offer health insurance (at least in Wisconsin) without an employer, health insurance agent, and the insurance company technically violating HIPPA. For example, the state Insurance Commissioner requires employers to collect certain information on a state mandated health insurance application. Under HIPAA, your employer isn't supposed to ask for this information. I have to collect this information from the employer, but I'm not supposed to tell the employer any HIPAA protected information. You know, the information that I just collected from the employer.

My company just had to re-do their "wellness" program because it asked questions that violated non-genetic discrimination laws by asking whether you have a history of cancer in your family, because, theoretically, it could be used to discriminate against you (instead of making you aware that a genetic history could, potentially, predispose you to some cancers).

/tangled web we weave

just2quixotic: As I have come to loathe insurance agencies over the years, I can't wait to see the HIPPA fines for unauthorized release of information applied to one.

/when I was in grad school, I had to study the security procedures of the medical records database kept by the college of pharmacy and suggest improvements. The HIPPA liability for accidental release of those records was greater than the worth of the University's assets.

But when the Veterans Administration does it, they get a budget increase.

And when the Commonwealth of Virginia does it, they pass a law exempting themselves while imposing fines of $2500 per record if anyone else does it.

As the article states - your medicare number is your Social Security number. It appears prominently on your Medicare card that you have to show in all your doctor's offices. Just another case of the government making something illegal... except when they do it.