Letter Back from OC using HIPAA leter.

[timbercreektech]

I received this from the original medical provider, after sending the restricted endorsement, waiting for the green card, and sending dispute letter to the CRA's for a medical account. I have not heard yet from the CRA's.

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Dear Mr. D*****

 

Thank you for your letter of April 11,2007, and the check in the amount of $170.00 in payment of the account for services provided to your daughter in 2005.

 

We will notify [Collection Agency] that this account is paid in full.

 

With regards to the balance of your letter, we believe we have complied with federal and state law regarding the disclosure of your information. We are contracted as a business associate of the collection agency , and as such are authorized to use and disclose patient information for specific purposes on our behalf. This is allowed a part of the "Payment Process", which does not necessarily end with our receipt of payment. For, we will have to cash the check, post the payment, notify our collections contractor of the receipt of payment, etc. This is all part of the payment process". In addition, the reporting of delinquent payment activity to a credit bureau is also part of the "payment process", and is allowed under the regulations.

 

You infer violations of HIPAA and "State Privacy Act rules". IF you have facts which support your inference, please advise. You also infer that we through acts of the collection agency may have violated the FCRA. Again, kindly advise as to what facts support your conclusion.

 

Again, if you have additional facts or information that you believe support your claims, we would be very interested in reviewing them. Otherwise, you are always free to contact the Office of Civil Rights to register a privacy complaint.

 

Big Bad General Counsel

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So are they calling my threat as a bluff, are they ignorant, or both? What will get the trade lines removed from my CR's.

 

Please Advise

Edited April 30, 2007 by timbercreektech

[Why Chat]

Standard reply, check your reports in about a week, if the account has been changed to "paid" or is unchanged, send the follow up dispute letter with a copy to the OC and the cover letter.

[petiteshiraz]

I wonder who wrote the response letter from the OC.

 

It says:

 

IF you have facts which support your inference, please advise. You also infer that we through acts of the collection agency may have violated the FCRA.

 

This is grammatically incorrect. The reader of the letter can infer (meaning to deduce or referring to a conjecture) something, the WRITER of a letter IMPLIES…

[Why Chat]

I wonder who wrote the response letter from the OC.

 

It says:

 

IF you have facts which support your inference, please advise. You also infer that we through acts of the collection agency may have violated the FCRA.

 

This is grammatically incorrect. The reader of the letter can infer (meaning to deduce or referring to a conjecture) something, the WRITER of a letter IMPLIES…

While I appreciate your attention to the finer points of grammatical exactitude, may I suggest that you concentrate on developing a more useful response to posts.

 

The stupidity and mendacity of CA's and the careless disregard of OC's for consumer rights and their lack of basic adherence to the laws would, I think, provide a more fertile ground for your criticism.