[My2Cents]

If you don't want your doctor sharing the fact you have STDs or whatever with the folks they might make your records public to (which are ordinarily going to be third party payers, and I assume you want them to know so they'll pay for your treatment), tell your doctor. Your doctor will have to consider your request, and record in your file not to share information with so-and-so.

This isn't about a sell-out to corporate America. Stop demagoguing the issue. This is about REASONABLE measure to protect privacy, which the revised regs do....protect privacy!

[Iwo Jima]

I do not understand. Why is this a proper function of the federal governement? What existing problem are we trying to solve? I have not heard of many problems with getting consent when needed for medical treatment. If the Clinton regulations are bad, GET RID OF THEM. Don't replace them with another set of federal regs which may be better and may be worse. Get the federal government out of it . Period.

Please tell us how our medical care is going to be better once the federal government puts out these regulations REGARDLESS of what they say or who puts them out.

[heylady]

Your insurance company knows the specific tests you have had and want them to pay for. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out if you had a T Helper and Supressor every week and a HIV by PCR what your diagnosis was. Medical Necessity, gov reg, only allows you to have tests directly related to your diagnosis. So if the Dr. has ordered a GC and Chlamydia he's looking for STD's. You would be surprised how little privacy you actually have.

[heylady]

Your insurance company knows the specific tests you have had and want them to pay for. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out if you had a T Helper and Supressor every week and a HIV by PCR what your diagnosis was. Medical Necessity, gov reg, only allows you to have tests directly related to your diagnosis. So if the Dr. has ordered a GC and Chlamydia he's looking for STD's. You would be surprised how little privacy you actually have.