Healthcare costs

[RICHARD]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31946805...rts/?GT1=43001


While this story does not have anything to do with health care, it exposes the basic flaw of the security for any comp/data gathering systems-

On Wednesday, Michelle Cawthra testified that she deposited unclaimed tax refunds and other money in Randell's bank accounts over two years by forging documents and creating fake businesses. She said she frequently used computer passwords of other workers so she wouldn't be detected.

Any system administrator that has access to passwords can get in and pretty much do anything want .... Your medical records may not be worth any money, but think of the gossip, it's worth it's weight in gold.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I have handled confidential records - personnel records which include medical info - for 30 years.

Papers gets left in the copier, on the desk, in the wrong folder. File cabinets don't get locked. Some people just are nosy.

Paper or electronic - if people want to find something out they will.

Having had it both ways I see no difference in security - electronic or paper!

The only difference I do see is electronic is more likely to be legible than a scribbled paper note. And date stamped!

[RICHARD]

The OctoMom hospital just got nailed with another 185k on top of the 250k they were originally fined for records snooping by employees!

I love the feeling of having my med recs secure.

Who cares about WHAT I buy at the store with my discount card!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I love the feeling of having my med recs secure.

Sorry - they never have been and I doubt they ever will be!

Just the facts....

[cassiesmom]

We were just talking about this at lunch. (Disclaimer: I'm a nurse, and I work in the insurance world.)

When I did workers' compensation, the employers that had the highest risk were placed into a pool, and each workers' compensation insurer was assigned a few of them. I don't know how risk was defined... high claim costs? high number of injuries? risky job tasks? or what.

Why couldn't each state pool its uninsured and parcel them out among each of the large health insurers? They all make such whopping profits that it should be no problem for them to write a reasonable policy to offer people who wouldn't otherwise have access to coverage. Not a bare-bones policy that would leave people underinsured, nor a mega-bells and whistles policy. But a reasonable policy that doesn't leave people stranded and bankrupt.

[RICHARD]

Why couldn't each state pool its uninsured and parcel them out among each of the large health insurers? They all make such whopping profits that it should be no problem for them to write a reasonable policy to offer people who wouldn't otherwise have access to coverage. Not a bare-bones policy that would leave people underinsured, nor a mega-bells and whistles policy. But a reasonable policy that doesn't leave people stranded and bankrupt.

Talk to the president about that. You know as well as I do that the HCR overhaul is nothing but blowing smoke up everyone's rear end to to make people feel better.

The insurance will be a freaking band aid and no one will ever get the health care that they deserve.


Long live the 12 dollar aspirin!

[Edwina's Secretary]

You know as well as I do that the HCR overhaul is nothing but blowing smoke up everyone's rear end to to make people feel better.

I am not sure everyone "knows" that! Except you of course....

And Cassiesmom..how nice to hear the opinion of someone who actually works in the heathcare/insurance industry!

[blue]

I have handled confidential records - personnel records which include medical info - for 30 years.

Papers gets left in the copier, on the desk, in the wrong folder. File cabinets don't get locked. Some people just are nosy.

There are reasons companies have policies for restricted access to copy and printer rooms. More reasons for companies to keep records of who accesses those rooms. Yet even more reasons why companies keep records of who looks at what files and when. Finaly the security policies companies have implimented for employies who dont lock up their files and cabinets. Physical security is easier to impliment then computer security, its just not cheap and convinient.

Paper or electronic - if people want to find something out they will.

Things electronic can be compromised with less effort then things kept paper. On the other hand things on paper can make compromising the electricly kept files that much easier.

Having had it both ways I see no difference in security - electronic or paper!

Most people wouldnt volunteer they have violated secure and private documents in such a cavileer manner.

The only difference I do see is electronic is more likely to be legible than a scribbled paper note. And date stamped!

Peoples privacy is more important then your convenience.