Question

Directions: Read through each case study. Use your best judgement and circle whether you think it is an incidental disclosure issue, a HIPPA violation, or neither. Explain the answer you selected.

Scenario:

A patient, Sun Cho, paid for services that were subsequently declared not medically necessary, and Dr. Cardi failed to refund the payment to the patient.

Answer 1

This is an incidental disclosure issue since Sun Cho has paid for the services and subsequently she has come to know that this payment was not necessary. Dr. Cardi should have known whether the patient has to pay for the treatment or whether it is not necessary. What could have happened is that even Dr. Cardi was not aware that payment should be taken for that service. In this case Sun Cho can approach Dr. Cardi and ask for a refund of her money since she is now aware that payment is not require for the services.

Incidental disclosure issues can be managed by discussing the issue and sorting out the problem.