Signing for an RX that is PUBLIC ~ Left for everyone to see your RX # and signature

by Tina W.
(The Midwest)

Public Signatures And RX Numbers at the Pharmacy

Public Signatures And RX Numbers at the Pharmacy

I want to know if it is in violation to sign a paper next to your RX number when picking up your RX?

This is a public paper.

I believe there are 15-20 slots there that can be signed.

When picking up my RX and that of my children and grandchildren. The cashier and pharmacy tech said they will not give us our medicine until we sign.

There was an instance where someone contacted my daughter's ex-husband and told him that the children were on medicine.

I have a restraining order against him. This poses a problem! When I talked to them about the problem the tech at the register told me if I didn't like signing the paper then I could go somewhere else.

I talked to the manager and I was assured that they were working on getting an electronic signing.

This has not happened so far and they still will not give me the RX without signing.

Please let me know what is right.

Thank you, Tina

Comments for Signing for an RX that is PUBLIC ~ Left for everyone to see your RX # and signature

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Jun 08, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Answer: This Seems to be a HIPAA Violation
by: Ronald

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was established for the protection of patient information such as health status, age, and date of birth; from third parties.

This law is applicable to all health workers not only doctors but also pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and other pharmacy staff.

In this particular scenario if the prescription number contained personal information, then right away, it is a violation of HIPAA because according to HIPAA laws the pharmacist owes a duty of care to ensure the privacy of your personal information such as your name, addresses, age and personal identity which is tied to you.

This is called "personally identifiable information." The pharmacist and pharmacy staff owe a confidential duty and hence must make a reasonable effort to protect personally identifiable information.

Under Title 1 of the HIPAA laws it provides that this information must remain confidential for the patient and under the privacy law it provides that in order for the information to be passed to another person, one must have consent from the patient to disclose information to a third party.

In this particular case they violated the HIPAA laws by failing to safeguard your children's/grandchildren's health status--as we can see that someone had contacted your daughter’s ex-husband informing him that the children were taking medication; hence they violated the HIPAA law.

You and your family have a right to lodge a complaint regarding this situation, against the pharmacist/pharmacy/pharmacy tech for your information being disclosed to third parties. They can file a case at the Department of Health and Human Services offices claiming that the privacy rules have not been adhered to by the pharmacy. The civil rights department will deal with investigating the complaint brought to them and would give remedies such as the possibility of suspension of the pharmacy employee(s) license and/or monetary fines levied against the pharmacy, and/or the upgrading of their prescription signature system.

Good luck!
Jun 08, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Answer: This Seems to be a HIPAA Violation
by: Ronald

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was established for the protection of patient information such as health status, age, and date of birth; from third parties.

This law is applicable to all health workers not only doctors but also pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and other pharmacy staff.

In this particular scenario if the prescription number contained personal information, then right away, it is a violation of HIPAA because according to HIPAA laws the pharmacist owes a duty of care to ensure the privacy of your personal information such as your name, addresses, age and personal identity which is tied to you.

This is called "personally identifiable information." The pharmacist and pharmacy staff owe a confidential duty and hence must make a reasonable effort to protect personally identifiable information.

Under Title 1 of the HIPAA laws it provides that this information must remain confidential for the patient and under the privacy law it provides that in order for the information to be passed to another person, one must have consent from the patient to disclose information to a third party.

In this particular case they violated the HIPAA laws by failing to safeguard your children's/grandchildren's health status--as we can see that someone had contacted your daughter’s ex-husband informing him that the children were taking medication; hence they violated the HIPAA law.

You and your family have a right to lodge a complaint regarding this situation, against the pharmacist/pharmacy/pharmacy tech for your information being disclosed to third parties. They can file a case at the Department of Health and Human Services offices claiming that the privacy rules have not been adhered to by the pharmacy. The civil rights department will deal with investigating the complaint brought to them and would give remedies such as the possibility of suspension of the pharmacy employee(s) license and/or monetary fines levied against the pharmacy, and/or the upgrading of their prescription signature system.

Good luck!

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