Medical CA's: Suggestions?

[lovebug5]

Can someone clarify something for me here...

Based upon HIPAA's "Protected Health Information" regulations, the fact that my CR's are showing the name of the original creditor is a violation. Correct? From what I have read both on these forums and off, the name of the original creditor is not to be divulged on your credit report for privacy purposes.

[LeslieR]

Here's the thing, lovebug -- I had that same beef. But from what I understand, the original provider isn't revealed on reports provided to anyone other than you. So the personal reports you buy from the CRAs or get from annualcreditreport.com, or your trimerges from trueCredit, will have the healthcare provider's name. But any report furnished to another party will NOT.

That's what I've been told by the CRAs. I'm interested to hear more, though - because medicals are all I have left too and they are all appearing w/ the OC's name.

[Nascar3]

Here is what I "think." Keep in mind that this is just what I recall, but being in the medical field, I came upon this info somewhere, but I cannot reference it because I cannot recall where I got it or if I am 100% correct.

I believe that the reports CAN actually have the name of the medical provider as long as it does not divulge any specific healthcare information about you. For instance, if you went to see Dr. Joe Blow and didn't pay him, your report COULD say Joe Blow. (You could have seen him for anything.) However, if you went to the Cancer Center and didn't pay them, your report CANNOT say Cancer Center because that would give out specific healthcare information. (It's obvious why you went to the Cancer Center.) Make sense?

As a rule, if the TL is medical, the CRA's will just keep the names of the OC's off the reports to keep themselves out of any legal tangles.

[LeslieR]

Good discussion going on re. this topic here:

http://www.debt-consolidation-credit-repair-service.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284712

Note what the reply poster says about the "MED1" notation - that's what I was talking about in Post #2 of this thread (if Med1 is there, then only you see the provider's name. If Med1 is missing, then it's there for all the world to see). Seems Hippa is concerned with whether the provider's name suggests your "problem" (e.g., Cardiac Care Associates, Psychiatric Providers Inc., etc.)

[lovebug5]

Thanks guys for replying.

You're both right...Just to clear up that angle. I appreciate your input!