Patient privacy laws out of control

We recently received a bill from a physician's practice addressed to my husband. The bill showed $25 that had been due for 30-60 days. The statement did not indicate for whom the charges were billed. I was concerned that we had been double billed for an office visit for my husband. I called the billing office, and was informed me that the charges were for my daughter.

This is when things became difficult. I asked her who my daughter had seen. She told me that she was not authorized to give me any information about the doctor or any of the other circumstances because my daughter was older than 18. She said the original bill had this information, and all future bills would be addressed to my daughter. Since the doctor's office sent the original bill with information to my husband, they already violated privacy laws in the first place. Now, I just wanted to verify billing information, but, no way was this office going to violate a law.

I thanked her for the information, or should I say, non-information, and hung up. I was going to pay the bill online, but I called back and paid with a credit card. Yes, the same woman answered. When she heard my account number, she informed me that the charge was for my daughter. I told her I really did not care, I just wanted to pay the $25. Then I asked her a question. "Have I violated any federal law by paying this bill?" Fortunately I had not, the doctor has been paid, and the world hasn't stopped spinning because I remember why I sent my daughter to the doctor in the first place.

Suzanne G. Hlotke

Carol Stream