Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Government

Welcome to the Doctor’s Office — Your Papers Please

Jan. 2, 2013 8:00am

Cherylyn Harley LeBon is a former Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

[ x ]

LeBon: Welcome to the Doctor Office — Your Papers Please

Obamacare symbol

I recently took my daughter to our pediatric ophthalmologist — a physician she has seen for several years, and with whom we have a very good relationship.

Upon arrival this time, the receptionist gave me three new, additional forms to fill out. These forms were not the usual update forms. This new paperwork required specific demographic information.

As I filled out the new forms, I wondered why my daughter’s eye doctor suddenly needed to keep track of things that seem irrelevant — such as the color of our skin.

When our doctor arrived and the exam got underway, it quickly veered away from ocular health as the doctor began asking several off-topic questions — all of them invasive in nature. For example, I was asked: “Does anyone smoke in the home?” It’s not exactly relevant, but I went along with the inquiries.

Finally, after becoming curious and somewhat annoyed that a medical professional I’ve known for years and know to be conservative was suddenly incorporating such a probing line of questioning, I politely broke down and asked him: “What gives? Why do you need to need know whether or not I smoke?”

My daughter’s doctor explained that the forms contained new requirements for obtaining patient information to be compliant with the Obamacare health care takeover. That additional data, he said, is being collected and will be entered into a “government database.”

I mentioned this to several friends in an e-mail conversation. To my surprise, this invasive information grab is developing into a pattern.

A friend in Pennsylvania took her twin boys to the pediatrician and was asked similar questions. Another friend in Virginia thought she was having informal “girlfriend chat” with her trusted, long-time physician before suddenly realizing that her doctor was writing everything down.

If the government now requires doctors to ask more probing questions, and our private information is being recorded and entered into some government database, there are troubling implications.

Does anyone remember HIPAA — the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — that addressed the security and privacy of health data?

A lot of time and money was spent passing HIPAA, but I now question its effectiveness in the era of Obamacare.

A government database does not enhance my feeling of security with respect to my, or my family’s, private medical data.

Government has a spotty record of keeping confidential information out of the wrong hands. I do not want my medical information to be the target of some overeager hacker who wants to make a big score and get bragging rights by cracking the code of the federal government’s huge medical information database.

I also don’t want to find out that the information I gave to my doctor is now accessible by the folks at the IRS, EPA and maybe even the DMV. Forget about hacker — we’ve all heard stories about government workers abusing their authority to use government records for political and personal gain.

And who knows when we’ll start getting calls and letter from Uncle Sam asking us to change our habits — such as smoking — based on what can be found in the database? Will it be a suggestion or a demand? It’s not too hard to imagine in an America where mayors — for our own good — are already using their power to ban certain food and drink and affixing a fine on those who don’t participate in “wellness” programs.

If my visit to my daughter’s ophthalmologist is any indication, we’re heading towards a future of more paperwork, less time spent between doctors and patients, and more invasive questions being dumped into a “government database.” And possible increased threats to our privacy.

Welcome to the Nanny State — it has officially arrived.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (11)

sexi_squidward
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:48pm
As a person with family who works in healthcare – you can opt out of these questions. I’m going to question why the doctor was asking the questions because that is not part of this, only the paperwork.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Roros
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 1:40pm
My doctor in Bremerton Washington, had me fill out information on color of my skin, ethnic background and it goes on. My doctors assistant told me that my doctor is getting payed by the Federal Goverment to have the questions answered. Why are the doctors getting payed by the feds, and how much are they paying?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Mstr Smith
Posted on January 4, 2013 at 4:08am
‘Spread Your Legs, You’re about to be Frisked”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
IdahoBlaze
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 11:07pm
This started coming years ago, folks…with the VA Medical System, upon which this new Tracking System is based. The VA is telling people that (for example) unless they quit smoking, they can’t get a sleep study done – which would give someone a life-saving CPAP machine. It’s completely true – this is my husband I’m talking about. He has used a CPAP for years, and every year we’d go in and get a ‘tune up’…he wanted to do another study to see where his oxygen levels were at. They told him no, until he quit smoking. I was astounded.

It’s only going to be more intrusive, and it’s going to get worse, quick. Duck n Cover, folks.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ragnars Repos
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:48pm
Boy, are you Americans going to be surprised when you see socialized medicine up close.

You want big government, you get it.

The “social safety net” costs much more than money, Conservatives.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
chg2012
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:18pm
EVERYthing the Dr knows goes to the Gov database / aka IRS.. of course they are all tied together ! LOL it’s ALL GOV..
YOUR Dr is no longer YOUR dr. people.
when the Dr starts asking You questions.. Start asking them in return ! LOL..
after all shouldn’t YOU know all there is to know about the Dr treating YOU > LOL

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
willbedone
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:17am
This “garbage” is pervasive in the internet. All these “security” questions. They may seem innocent enough on the surface but as a collection they can draw a very clear picture. A picture that you may not want anyone to see. For that reason I give all sorts of phony information, information that will take someone down a drunkards path. They may finally draw a correct picture, but it wont be with my help. Think next time personal questions pop up don’t confront them, just play their silly game and give an incorrect response. Throw them a hushpuppy.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
cowgirl
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 1:02am
I went to my dermatologist for a minor skin irritation and had to get my blood pressure taken. No more !

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
tharpdevenport
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 4:39pm
Here’s a better question: after four years of an increasingly invasive and forboding government, why are people going along with this at all? Just say “No” or “None of your business”.

If they deny you service, stand up, tell them you no longer will use their services and will take your money elsewhere, and LEAVE.

When I order a pizza and they ask for my phone number, I deny them and tell them to pick one or use theirs.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 1:47pm
Next Question. Do you have guns in your house?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- chg2012
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:21pm
  I think they started that years ago..
  it’s all for Your child’s safety.. as if You are not responsible enough to protect Your child !
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.