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A Drug Addiction Risk Algorithm and Its Grim Toll on Chronic Pain Sufferers

11 points by elorant 5y ago

WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
Thanks to Opioid Hysteria, far too little attention is being paid to the War On Pain Relief. I live in one of the states that limits pain Rx to a 3 day supply (which most Dr's are unwilling to give) and the single allowed 3 day extension is all but impossible to get. Dr's are so spooked by Gov/LEO's heavy hand that they're likely to Rx Tylenol to post op patients in severe pain - guaranteeing they remain in severe pain. The pill mill problem largely wound down over a decade ago; cheap fentanyl and heroin are what's driving overdoses. Hazing Dr's who Rx pain meds doesn't touch the fentanyl problem. It just leaves millions of people in needless pain - which suits most pols & LEO just fine.
runnerup 5y ago
Can someone explain to me how sharing my prescriptions with a third party isn't a HIPAA violation? I haven't signed a release, why do companies I've never heard of have my prescriptions?
- runnerup 5y ago
  Answered my own question: > By law, the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies only to covered entities – health plans, health care clearinghouses, and certain health care providers. However, most health care providers and health plans do not carry out all of their health care activities and functions by themselves. Instead, they often use the services of a variety of other persons or businesses. The Privacy Rule allows covered providers and health plans to disclose protected health information to these “business associates” if the providers or plans obtain satisfactory assurances that the business associate will use the information only for the purposes for which it was engaged by the covered entity, will safeguard the information from misuse, and will help the covered entity comply with some of the covered entity’s duties under the Privacy Rule. Covered entities may disclose protected health information to an entity in its role as a business associate only to help the covered entity carry out its health care functions – not for the business associate’s independent use or purposes, except as needed for the proper management and administration of the business associate. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/business-associates/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance...

11 points by elorant 5y ago

Thanks to Opioid Hysteria, far too little attention is being paid to the War On Pain Relief. I live in one of the states that limits pain Rx to a 3 day supply (which most Dr's are unwilling to give) and the single allowed 3 day extension is all but impossible to get. Dr's are so spooked by Gov/LEO's heavy hand that they're likely to Rx Tylenol to post op patients in severe pain - guaranteeing they remain in severe pain. The pill mill problem largely wound down over a decade ago; cheap fentanyl and heroin are what's driving overdoses. Hazing Dr's who Rx pain meds doesn't touch the fentanyl problem. It just leaves millions of people in needless pain - which suits most pols & LEO just fine.

runnerup 5y ago

Can someone explain to me how sharing my prescriptions with a third party isn't a HIPAA violation? I haven't signed a release, why do companies I've never heard of have my prescriptions?

runnerup 5y ago
Answered my own question: > By law, the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies only to covered entities – health plans, health care clearinghouses, and certain health care providers. However, most health care providers and health plans do not carry out all of their health care activities and functions by themselves. Instead, they often use the services of a variety of other persons or businesses. The Privacy Rule allows covered providers and health plans to disclose protected health information to these “business associates” if the providers or plans obtain satisfactory assurances that the business associate will use the information only for the purposes for which it was engaged by the covered entity, will safeguard the information from misuse, and will help the covered entity comply with some of the covered entity’s duties under the Privacy Rule. Covered entities may disclose protected health information to an entity in its role as a business associate only to help the covered entity carry out its health care functions – not for the business associate’s independent use or purposes, except as needed for the proper management and administration of the business associate. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/business-associates/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance...