It was a hand written address to me specifically. It contained two tickets to a “VIP” luncheon for many of my symptoms.
The card inside was preprinted without my name.
It was addresses to Mr. Me full name.
It’s a mass mailing.
A rather sophisticated one, but it’s not nearly as personal as it appears.
There are any number of sources for people who have back problems, none of which violate HIPPA.
Purchases of various items over the internet, the use of your credit/debit card for any number of “key” purposes can get you on the list. Just being over a certain age can do it. Or someone very enterprising could be scanning parking lots for license plate numbers.
The “VIP” luncheon is a common marketing practice in the insurance, financial services and medical industries.
You are already on a number of lists.
If it hasn’t happened already, you will start receiving similar ads for “Free Seminars” and “Special Appointments” for your hearing, your retirement and as in this case common age related medical issues.
There’s no HIPPA law that some in depth market research can’t get around. In fact, it might even be random.
After a certain age close to 90% of the population experiences some form of back issue. The percentage has gotten this high for two reasons:
First, we’re living longer.
Second, we’re all a lot bigger than our grandparents were.
Back issues are inevitable.
If you decide to go to this luncheon, you will find a fairly large number of chairs set up - but not so many that they don’t have to “squeeze in” a few more to accommodate everyone. Then you will get a presentation that is a lot less personal than the invitation leads you to expect.