Transcript:

When is Congress going to realize that Seniors don’t like having their social security numbers on their Medicare cards, and no one wants to hand out their social security number every time they visit a new doctor’s office.

But the worst is yet to come, if Congress doesn’t put patient privacy rights back into the Health Information Technology Bill.

That doesn’t look like that’s happening any time soon. In May, the house removed language that would have protected a patient’s medical information and given all of us more control.

Instead, patient privacy will be guided by a 2002 regulatory change that allows health care providers to share patient records with employers, drug and insurance companies, credit reporting bureaus, accountants, banks, lawyers, and others without patient permission, and for business and other uses unrelated to healthcare treatment or paying claims.

In fact, over 600,000 businesses can get your medical and payment information electronically, without your permission.

With practical, informative consumer advice, I’m Ilyce Glink, News-Talk 750 WSB