Weird One at Dodge Dealer -- HIPAA

[JStankus]

Came across an odd one at the Dodge dealer this morning.

I stopped by to check on when the warrantee runs out on the 2003 I bought from my father-in-law a couple of weeks ago. (since there was some questions on the warrantee on the previous 98. 5 I had bought from him)

My usual service writer was of today and talked to another one. When I tried to look at the screen for the info, she said we are not allowed to show that info due to HIPAA (which for those who don't know is The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ).



Could someone explain to me how looking at the remaining warrantee info on a vehicle I own (outright mind you) has anything to do with Health Insurance privacy regulations??



I am flummoxed by this one.





John

 

[rbattelle]

Well, it's really quite simple. If you actually had a look at the screen they keep on your truck's warranty you'd see the fact that they've red-flagged it to deny engine warranty coverage due to the installation of aftermarket mudflaps. You'd be so shocked by this that you might actually have a heart attack right there on the spot, which would put you in the hospital for several days. Hence the mysterious but undeniable link between health insurance and vehicle repairs.



-Ryan

[I mean no disrespect to anyone with this post. It is meant to be purely humorous. I am not being mean spirited or anything... just trying to make a funny]

 

[JStankus]

Those are genuine dealership Installed Mud-flaps thank you very much



John

 

[RustyJC]

Yeah, but I'll bet not all of the oil and filters came from Mopar!!! :{ :{



Rusty

 

[txhawg]

Maybe she was confusing HIPAA with HAIGTSTC?

 

[JStankus]

Care to explain HAIGTSTC? For those not in the know



The HIPAA excuse is probably something they (or some middle manager) at the dealership made up to keep folks from looking over their shoulder. Most folks don't know what it is, other than it is something from the government.



John

 

[scottmcd]

Ask the service person if they are HIPPA certified, as it is about a 2 hr test to get certfied, and if your 5* dealer is like mine they definetly don't have the time between coffee breaks to get it done.

 

[DPelletier]

Well, it's really quite simple. If you actually had a look at the screen they keep on your truck's warranty you'd see the fact that they've red-flagged it to deny engine warranty coverage due to the installation of aftermarket mudflaps. You'd be so shocked by this that you might actually have a heart attack right there on the spot, which would put you in the hospital for several days. Hence the mysterious but undeniable link between health insurance and vehicle repairs.



-Ryan

[I mean no disrespect to anyone with this post. It is meant to be purely humorous. I am not being mean spirited or anything... just trying to make a funny]

:-laf :-laf



Dave

 

[scootergmc]

Your service guy is a crackhead. Demand to see that screen. Then demand to see the manager and show you the Hipaa regs that prevent you from looking at the screen... .

 

[JStankus]

I just went ahead and called the Dodge/Chrysler 800 number and got all the info I needed (after 30 minutes on hold ). Didn't figure it was worth arguing with the service writer who probably had no idea what HIPAA was other than an excuse. I did tell her that I deal with HIPAA at work and that it was not applicable.



John



"Don't try to teach a pig to sing,

it wastes your time,

and annoys the pig"

 

[BNH4221]

FWIW,



HIPAA is the umbrella law that covers all the privacy regulations enacted by the feds a couple of years ago.

Since the truck was in your father in laws name, they cannot, by Federal Law, show you any info. as it is protected by the privacy act.



Just so you know.



Steve

 

[GerryDrake]

Possibly

The one time I took mine in to the local dealer, the service writer confirmed that I was the original owner, then printed out the history of my truck for me. In doing so, he said something to the effect that he could only provide that info to the original owner. I don't know what the regulating force was, but he wasn't wearing surgical clothes...

 

[JStankus]

FWIW,



HIPAA is the umbrella law that covers all the privacy regulations enacted by the feds a couple of years ago.

Since the truck was in your father in laws name, they cannot, by Federal Law, show you any info. as it is protected by the privacy act.



Just so you know.



Steve

Actually, No HIPAA is only pertinent to healthcare and individually identifiable healthcare information.



"To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, Public Law 104-191, included “Administrative Simplification” provisions that required HHS to adopt national standards for electronic health care transactions. "



Unfortunately there is no overarching legislation on privacy in general. HIPAA applies to healtcare and health insurance. This is why I was so confused about it.



John

not a lawyer and don't play one on TV

 

[GFrance]

Maybe the health of your truck fits that criteria. Since you are not the original owner that info must be protected. After all your truck could have a fatal condition & that info must only be disclosed to the original purchaser. :-{}

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

You wouldn't believe how companies are going insane over HIPAA. My wife works for a banking association - nothing to do with healthcare other than that they do have a department that sells blue cross to their members. My wifes boss had a heart attack and she called my wife to let her know what was going on and to tell her clients and the other people in her department what was going on and when they could expect her back at work. My wife sent an email to the people in her department and the boss over them FREAKED out - said that it was a HIPAA violation, called in the lawyers (who agreed btw), etc. They were told that noone else in the office could be informed as to what was going on and noone outside the office could either. All they could be told was that she was not available and could they have someone else contact them. It was amazing.

 

[GFrance]

Yep more of the politically correct crowd at work. There always out trying to protect us from ourselves. Besides have to give the lawyers busy.

 

[txhawg]

Care to explain HAIGTSTC? For those not in the know



The HIPAA excuse is probably something they (or some middle manager) at the dealership made up to keep folks from looking over their shoulder. Most folks don't know what it is, other than it is something from the government.



John

HAIGTSTC = How Am I Going To Screw This Customer

 

[BNH4221]

Actually, No HIPAA is only pertinent to healthcare and individually identifiable healthcare information.

Jstankus,



Respectfully disagree. I can't quote verse or anything, but I am pretty sure that HIPAA covers almost all aspects of the federal privacy act.



Either way, the end result is the same. The privacy thing is TOTALLY out of control.

For example, I am not allowed under federal law to tell my wife when I pass gas.

Somehow she always seems to know. :-laf



Best,



Steve

 

[Carlsummers]

This could fall under the privacy act, but HIPAA is most definately a medical privacy/protection thing, and only pertains to medical stuff. I work for the V. A. and we are under 6 different "standards" of confidentiality... privacy act and HIPAA being only 2 of those..... talk about overkill.....

 

[GerryDrake]

In HIPAA, Congress required health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers who conduct certain financial and administrative transactions electronically (such as eligibility, referral authorizations and claims) to comply with each set of final standards. Other businesses may voluntarily comply with the standards, but the law does not require them to do so.



The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a complicated and multifaceted law with regulations still being finalized.



The above is from a web search that led to http://www.hipaadvisory.com/action/faqs/Road to Compliance.htm



IMHO it is medical concern, not one for dealers