Comments on: Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:08:27 +0000

Due to recent heath problems i have had to have Diagnostic Testing performed. No matter where I am constantly met with demands for my Driving License. The institutions are; Physicians, Diagnostic labs, & Radiologic Imaging sites .
I am not underscoring the use of the word ‘Demand”. office workers (Supervisors included) make verbal threats to forbid me from seeing the physician or refuse to allow the testing performed. I have all too often confronted the Physicians, Laboratory Owner, et al. All claim it is the FTC “Law”
Copies of my operators license are scanned or copied every time, whether I have been there before.
This is unreasonable.

By: debra

debra — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:08:43 +0000

Isn’t it funny that we don’t have to show ID to vote? What’s up with that? We should be showing identity when we vote. Of course, only law abiding citizens have to show identity. I don’t mind showing it at the doctor’s office , but to photocopy it is ridiculous.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:36:48 +0000

Today I heard a news report that the Fed AG is suing States that require voters to show picture IDs in order to vote. I don’t understand why it’s okay to require IDs for medical care,(and in that case they also make a copy of it), but they don’t think that it’s important to protect against voter fraud. Isn’t that inconsistent? Any thoughts?

By: Nora

Nora — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:48:18 +0000

I work at a large hospital in the emergency room as an admissions and insurance specialist (NOT a receptionist). I am also a nice, intelligent human that worries about the same things everyone else here is worried about. There are a few useful things I’d like to point out that I think a lot of you will find helpful:

1) People keep bringing up state laws about getting copies of IDs (someone brought up California). This doesn’t matter. The US Constitution makes it clear that federal laws ALWAYS trumps state laws, so a federal law requiring something is king. With that being said, I work with HIPAA and CMS compliance and have never heard anything about requiring an ID. It may be different in a doctors office, but I’m rarely asked to show one.

2) There is a law known as EMTALA that basically says if you are having a medical emergency or are in labor, hospitals are legally required to treat you (or stabilize you and transport you to another hospital). We have illegal immigrants come in all the time (for totally non-emergency reasons). They give us false information and no photo ID and we are still, by FEDERAL law, required to treat them. Homeless people come in all the time and we are required to treat them, even if they don’t have an ID. So if you’re having an emergency (or if you want to be a jerk and go to the emergency room because you don’t want to schedule an appt with a doctor) EMTALA requires that the hospital treat you no matter what- you don’t have to provide an ID, social security number, or even sign our consents. Again, I don’t know the rules to regular doctor appts but if you’re having an emergency, you WILL be able to get treatment.

3) One last thing: the staff/admissions reps/ receptionists at the front desk have no control over the rules their supervisors and bosses give them. They are not working for the government, trying to cause your death, or wanting to inconvenience you. Granted, some are complete jerks, but if you do not want them to scan your ID, just explain it politely, for goodness sakes! You don’t have to be rude and demand to scan their ID and speak with their supervisor and throw a fit. Simply explain that you’re worried about privacy but you’d be happy to show it to them to prove you are actually you. If they’re rude, yes, speak to their supervisor, but when you’re asked for an ID, don’t automatically throw a fit and demand the person explain the law requiring them to get it. Most of them are just doing what they’re told and if they don’t ask, they’ll likely be fired. Be polite, guys, it goes a long way. Let’s say you work at a bank or McDonalds- if I have a problem with an interest rate or want to know why mcdonalds markets unhealthy food to children, do you want someone coming up to the window demanding you speak for your company? Heck no! You hate interest rates and calories as much as the next guy, but you’re trying to earn a living. Just keep that in mind, please!

By: kyle

kyle — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:48:07 +0000

First there has to be a written law that states a physician can take a copy of your license and they must show it to the patient. This all came about because of the Red Flag policy which exempted doctors offices and stated they are not creditors like banking institutions. However the offices are still asking for copies of licenses without legal rights. We live in a free country and thank God we are not required to walk around with our “papers” to prove our identity. Hopefully never a National ID card. Finally, I having been with all of my physicians for 15 plus years I feel if they don’t know at this point who I am as there patient and need proof of identity this is a unfortunate. The biggest fraud usually occurs inside the medical professional and The physician should take ownership over this by getting a picture of the patient when they come in and keep on file.
The person mentioning we should be happy when we are asked to show our license when using our credit card. The fact is Credit companies state you do not have to show your license when you use your credit card. I called on this just this year and was told a merchant can not ask for your license

By: lori j

lori j — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:49:55 +0000

We have homeless patients, and they have an ID. You can give the address of a shelter, friend ect…..Stop trying to make it difficult. I would think that in this day and age, that people would like to make sure that you are whom you day you are. If someone stole your insurance card and now using it to go to the Doctor , and now you don’t have to use an ID to prove it is you, And say they have a drug problem that they are being treated for. Maybe has HIV or something like that. You go to get a job and they do some type of a chek and they find out that you are a user, or a high risk. Yeah now how are you going to prove that was not you??????
You have to see it from both sides. I myself want to make sure that I am protected and that Noboby is able to use my name and insurance card.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:59:22 +0000

I have a question I’m homeless and they won’t let me get a state ID unless I have a residential address, being marginally housed i don’t pay bills at my address or technically live here (currently my home is a walk-in closet I rent for cash under the table) for this month. So if they won’t issue and ID how do I show and ID to do anything my only ID now is expired?

Seems to me just another thing for other people and not me like banking and having the right to vote or getting a library card – now somthing like going to the ER is now out of bounds unless I’m so sick they must take me and admit me.

I work as a sidewalk performer, have never been in trouble with the law and my only crime is being poor so is now being poor a crime?

By: lori j

lori j — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:40:56 +0000

I am an Office manager for a private practice. I can tell you that the laws change so fast, back and fourth it is very hard for us to keep up. The government sends out a new law gives us the date that it is to go in effect. We abide by the law, and then we get a paper through snail mail, which states that they are putting a hold on until? If you do not have an office big enough to warrent you having one person dedicated to just the changing laws you miss out!
When I read on here about how upset everyone is with the Doctor’s , it makes me mad. Trust me we do not want to ask people for some of the information we are requested to. But we do because that is what we are told! If you want to be mad, get mad with Washington and stop giving our staff such a hard time, we do not make rules we have to follow the millions given to us.
I can tell you, it is our rule in our practice that we take a copy of your DL or other valid picture ID. If a patient does not comply we refer them to different doctors. We have fire walls and pay a lot of money for security for all of our computers. We do a complete backround check on all of our employees. We take the extra steps to make sure that our patients are as secure as they can be. No system is without flaws. But we spend a lot of extra money to ensure your privacy.
So next time you are standing at a doctor’s window checking in, just remember don’t yell at the poor girl checking you in, She gets paid to do what the practice tells her to do. You can get mad at Washington and make them change the ways they make us do business. Or you can simply go to another Doctor’s office.

By: Sophia

Sophia — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:53:01 +0000

There are multiple reason for giving a legal id. One due to fraud with insurance companys, must be sure you are the same person on the insurance card. Medical staff also have responsibilities to report such things as abuse, rape, std (hiv) any disease that could be tranmitted to others, has to be reported to the health dept. With that said an there must be an ID on file so that you are the person who is being treated for any of those mentioned above. I work for a clinic, and i have witnessed one person give her relative’s name when she was coming in with a personal problem. Unfortunately those honest people have to be group in with dishonest people.

By: Tishan

Tishan — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:15:23 +0000

People have no problem showing their ID when they use their credit card, Why? because you are glad that person asked to make sure that you are the person that really owns that card. Also people get mad if you have C ID on the back of the card and the clerk dont ask to see your ID BUT you are mad because Physician office ask for your ID. That make no sense. I work at a doctors office and if you know how often Idenity theft happen you would be glad to show your ID. Physician with a great EMR system, it help the nurses make sure she is talking with the correct patient. Also, With our office once your ID has been scanned in the system you are no longer required to show ID.

By: Lu Anne

Lu Anne — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:27:51 +0000

I sort of understand they want ID if you pay with insurance, to make sure someone else is not “stealing” another’s to use the insurance.
What puzzles me is the answer I do not get, when I ask why do they need my ID if I am PAYING CASH!!!
They do not know, they have no knowledge of the Red Flag Rule.
I have never been refused service because I am paying right there and they do not have trouble with insurance, but they always say: IT IS OUR POLICY. Where is that written? Why it is not posted out there clearly for all to see?
The Ref Flag Rule was amended, saying doctors/dentists ARE NOT CREDIT providers if they require payment when services are rendered (diffirent from labs/xrays etc where they bill days AFTER services are provided).

I get weird stares when I say I do not have a license, but I am not letting anyone copy that, unless they show me a rule, law or policy.

Good luck you all.

By: Trish Sablic

Trish Sablic — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:55:59 +0000

I no longer allow my drivers license to be photocopied either. I say, “I’ll show it to you as proof of identity but you can’t scan or copy it.” I’ve been to different hospitals and doctors offices, but only one doctor refused to see me because I wouldn’t let them scan my ID. They usually look puzzled, but if you’re insistent, they back down.
When I’ve asked why they need that photocopy of my drivers license, the answers are usually just nonsensical. “It’s our policy, we have to have it in our file, etc.” They don’t even know why they’re doing it! And seriously, I’m just fed up with all the information everybody wants from you. You can’t even go to check out in a store without them asking for your email address, phone number, or zip code. I usually just answer “no”.

By: judah estasti

judah estasti — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:08:36 +0000

I went to the doctor’s office in washington for trouble breathing and pain in my chest and they refused to see me unless they could copy my drivers license. I stuck to my guns like noted above but they still refused to see me or give a copy of their policy even though I could have been having a heart attack right in front of them. They shuffled me from person to person and I finally left because I was in pain and my family was worried. The next doctor’s office was friendlier but said the same thing and I needed to be seen.
We need some recommendations other than refuse to give them your i.d. and walk out of the office or get copies of their i.d.’s. That’s not happening. Especially when you are suffering (sick) and not upper class, the healthcare industry has all the power. They do whatever they want and we have no recourse if we need to be seen.
I asked “you are refusing to see me unless I let you keep a copy of my photo i.d.?” They said “no, you are refusing to be comply with our policies in order to be seen.”
This makes me reconsider the worthiness of class action lawsuits and the manner with which to proceed these days in regards to protection of my privacy.

By: Liz

Liz — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:04:11 +0000

The outcome of the”Red Flag Rule” just recently stated that doctors are not creditors and therefore are not part of the policy. This came after many doctors fought to not have to do this. It’s hard enough to go to a doctor and find one you trust when you feel as though they don’t trust you right from the start.
Protect your rights. Don’t give in with out a fight. I tried to give a doctor’s office a copy of my license w/the id number blacked out and they refused it. Treatment was still provided, however, but not w/out a nasty attitude from the receptionist.

By: heidi

heidi — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:39:17 +0000

Folks:

I’m a lawyer and have taken Bar Association continuing education on this very topic. The Red Flag Rules DO NOT require medical offices to check IDs or copy driver’s licenses. What they require is for certain actions to be taken in the event that the office sees a “red flag” that some patient is trying to commit a fraud of some kind.

Do not let any receptionist or supervisor tell you the “law” requires this kind of data collection.

I myself have some providers that have requested ID for years — so it has nothing whatsoever to do with the Red Flag rules. What I do, when someone asks for a photocopy of my license, is let them do it, but take a pen and obliterate the license #. I’d advise everyone to refuse a scan.

BTW, there is no reason to give a health care provider your SS#. Often your insurance ID is your SS#, but you can change that by requesting a different ID # (and a new insurance card) from your insurer.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:49:25 +0000

In many states (CA for example) photocopying and storing a patron’s state-issued ID is illegal.

My suggestion: Look up your local state laws and if you find something that looks applicable to you, then print it out and carry it around with you.

By: Dominick

Dominick — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:00:34 +0000

Just left a clinic in Atlanta. Gave them all my address info, but refused to fill out SSN or give them my drivers licence for photocopying. Office manager called a doctor out of treating patients to talk to me in front of the whole waiting room. I told him I had cash, would pay up front, and needed medical attention. He said he would not allow his office to treat me without a valid government photo ID on file. He said it was office policy and that’s that. I said I couldn’t beleive that the doctor himself has time to waste to discuss such trivial issues that he should be spending doing his job helping patients. He walked away from me washing his hands of me. I walked out.
Serious misplacement of duty here.
This seems to be completely arbitrary. I have visited other doctors, even had – and paid for – surgery without giving them anything at all.

By: Will my wife die?

Will my wife die? — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 07:46:03 +0000

7-10-10 Today, on a trip out of town (by bus), my wife just went to a clinic in Renton, Washington. She has had MRSA symptoms now for a couple of weeks. She called in and said she had cash. After arriving she was refused medical treatment for being unable to show a govt. issued photo ID. She had plenty of cash for the doctor visit. She was not asking for billing, credit, or insurance coverage. She had CASH!

Valley Medical Clinic refused to diagnose or give her medical treatment. She called Overlake Medical Center and was told the same thing on the phone, no ID = no treatment even with cash-in-hand! My wife was polite, was born in this country, has always paid her bills and taxes, (heck, she’s even a nurse!). She was emotionally destroyed by this event… now we will see if she lives long enough to get back home on the bus and get treatment closer to home.

Think about it, if a person cannot get treated without ID, is this not an evil system that demands your very soul? Obamacare will be far worse!

By: lauren

lauren — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:20:48 +0000

i agree with everyone I called my children s pediatricians office today to make an appointment and was told to bring ID for there visit..
I first new about this last year when I went for an outpatient procedure they took my license and scanned it. Then I went to my ob/Gyn office who has known me for 16 years and copied my license. After that I said I will not go back to any doctor Until I find out the law. I am an American and my uncle died and served this country for our freedom and I if the doctor wants proof the OWNERSHIP should be on the office. We are heading for a National ID card which means every thing we purchase we will have to show this identification. This should terrify everyone. I will continue to refuse to give my license and hope everyone does the same.

By: E Kelly

E Kelly — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:47:13 +0000

My doctor’s office has a copy of my valid drivers’ license (photo id) and insurance card. However, at my last visit I noticed webcam cameras pointing into the waiting room and at the check-out hall. The photos are to be taken of every patient and stored as a .jpg on a system the office will not confirm is secure or not. The receptionist explained one of the doctors created a new mandate that all patients not only succumb to their photos being taken but that the photos must be so close-up the patient’s face alone fills the screen. Is this practice legal? My doctor already has a valid photo id. The local senator’s office called the doctor repeatedly to find out what was going on and the doctor said there was no way he would take that call simply because “he didn’t want to.” Thank you for your thoughts!