Comments for philosecurity

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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!

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by Sara

Sara — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:44:48 +0000

I think it is something from the inside. I had this happen twice in the past 4 or so months and have had to go through all the hassle of changing my card number for all the automatic payments I set up. I hardly ever use this card at all for anything except for automatic payments of my phone bill which a few months ago changed from AT&T to T-mobile, so a 3rd party merchant seems far-fetched. I just cancelled my card. Chase Freedom is awesome.

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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.

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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?

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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.

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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.

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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.

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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.

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by Brian

Brian — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:43:51 +0000

My wife received a robo-call from BoA over the weekend saying they detected “unusual” activity on her card. The robo-call then asked her to verify her identity by entering her social security number. She immediately hung up. I called BoA directly and found that, yes indeed it was BoA calling (they verified the number), and that, yes the robo-call will ask you to enter your SSN. I was FURIOUS! BoA, in “trying to protect it’s customers” is acting like a phisher! Stupid. So after a while on the phone w/ customer service, I’m told that it wasn’t unusual activity but a “data compromise” and now all of sudden, it’s my card AND my wife’s card. In fact, they said they had already put a block on both of our cards, though they were surprised to learn that we’d used one of the cards only about an hour before. UFB!

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by hlh

hlh — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:39:34 +0000

I also received a similar letter this week.

I agree with this blog completely. This is ridiculous, and absurd. I love how the customer service reps claim that cannot tell me who/how my account was breached because “they don’t know”. Really?!? It is amazing their value my business so little. I have had a credit card with them for 20 years and they are my bank. I will be canceling my credit card and moving banks, and I told them so.

The only way our financial system will change is if we demand that it will change. Vote with your feet. And always vote!

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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”.

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by susan hanlon

susan hanlon — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:44:21 +0000

This is the second time it has happened to me. I am furious!
First my person visa, and then 2 months later my business Visa.
I was mailed new cards before I even knew my accounts had been compromised. I still keep getting the same blah blah blah.
A Very unhappy customer of Bank America.!!!!!

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by Ricker

Ricker — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:14:13 +0000

WOW! Just received the exact letter as previous posts– on 8/22/2011!! I haven’t used that card for over a year….When I called the phone number on the letter, I recieved the same response. BofA acknowledged that I hadn’t used the card but a location where I used the card in the past had reported my card information had been compromised. She could not give me the location. I asked the rep if businesses typically keep credit card records for longer than a year. She said some do. I’m going to have to seriously re-consider the use of any credit card….

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by guero

guero — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:55:33 +0000

i got my letter today july 5, all my accounts are frozen or canceled..

Comment on One Week Without Plastic (Part 2) by bbot

bbot — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 05:01:16 +0000

You haven’t updated in more than a year, so I have unsubscribed from your blog.

Comment on Doctors Require Photo ID for Treatment 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.

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:51:01 +0000

The reason they sent you new cards was so they could make you feel vulnerable and get you on the phone to offer you a service that can protect you from identity theft. do you remember them offering this service?

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by Raven

Raven — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:26:53 +0000

I received one today on 04Apr11. I recently closed out all of my BOA accounts, except for the credit card and was wondering if the letter was some type of ploy to earn my business back. Maybe not…

Comment on BofA Discloses “Undisclosed” Breach by Diana Graham

Diana Graham — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:57:58 +0000

March 8th, 2011. And, yet again, another security breach involving thousands of customers and Bank Of America. I, too, was notified my card was “frozen” when I tried to use it to pay a bill over the phone. After speaking to 3 reps and a Supervisor in their customer service area, I was told the card was canceled due to a breach and I needed to wait until I received a new card in the mail to pay bills or make purchases. Let me think about that, most if not all bills have due dates and late charges if not paid on time. I am guessing by the time I received this new card it would be late and I would have incurred a late charge. When I questioned late charges, all the phone reps said I had to take that up with another department. Of course. I rarely carry cash and use my card frequently so if I had to wait for a new card, I’d be without groceries, gas etc until I got a new card. The phone reps did tell me I could go to a BofA branch, get a temporary card and then wait for another permanent card to be mailed. Because I wanted to discuss this further and didn’t want to wait until I received a new card, I opted to go to a branch. When I got to the bank, I found I could not get a temporary card because my account had been opened in another state and the only option was to close out the account I have had since 1992 and re-open one in the state I now reside. I declined but due to the perseverance of the personal banker, he was able to get someone to over night a new card to me then gave me a cashier’s check at no charge to pay my bill. Otherwise I would have been without a card for however many days/weeks it took to replace mine. It’s a good thing I had a really good personal banker help me or I would have closed my account and notified the State Attorney General. I asked both on the phone and in person what company did this. The phone reps told there was no way they could give me info on who had the breach as it was “under investigation” which is a blatant lie. If a company tells BofA or any bank they had a breach, no investigation is involved, it’s a FACT. The branch rep said it was due to legal issues. I don’t believe any of those excuses. I was also told by everyone there was no way they could notify their customers prior to cancellation such as by phone or email due to the LARGE number of customers involved and the time it would take. Only a mass mailing letter can be done. Seriously? Not only would it be much more cost effective to notify by email than by snail mail but by being proactive, customers would not be caught off guard when they tried to use their cards and were declined. Not to mention IRATE. I know not everyone has online banking but I’ll bet millions of us do. Not notifying customers immediately is unconscionable. Like previous posters on this site, who wants to do business with a company that allows breaches of such magnitude. Seems like some branch of the government should/could force banks to be forthcoming with this information. I know BofA is not the only bank keeping these secrets as my brother banks with another bank and it has happened to him also. Oh, and I am still perturbed even after this rant.