[AlaskaErik]

And once you've received your new medical ID number, the receptionist may call you in from the waiting room by your number instead of your name - a procedure designed to protect your privacy from others in the waiting room.

So if I wanted a person's medical information, all I have to do is sit in a waiting room, record their number, watch what car they get into and record the license plate number, and I can find everything out. Why bother with the computer privacy sreens?

[Genaro]

"The government estimates that healthcare providers will spend as much as $4 billion to comply with these measures. And do you imagine those costs will be passed along to the patients?"

Oh yeah? I just spent over $6000 for attorneys fees to help write our HIPAA manual. Where is the cashier's window where I can get reimbursed? Insurers and customers will not allow us to pass this cost on.