I'm missing something here. Could your underage child also opt for any kind of procedure they wanted using your insurance without your knowledge. Setting aside hot button issues like abortion, could your child opt for eg, braces even though this might not be something within your budget?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an older teen with chronic health problems and absolutely loathe HIPPA.

I have to remember to have DC sign papers giving me access at every provider. I have to do the running around when we slip up and forget as DC has limited mobility. In some cases, they ask for a new consent every time new records are requested. I admit I have simply signed DC's name to some consent forms. DC wants me to be present at every appointment, coordinate everything, get medical records, deal with insurance, etc because, well, isn't it enough to be a full time student with several significant chronic illnesses?

When medical offices ask for DC's email, we always put down mine so I create the accounts.

I wonder how this works for kids with mental illness or limited cognitive ability.

Same for adults -- you give permission or get a power of atty.

Anonymous wrote:I have an older teen with chronic health problems and absolutely loathe HIPPA.

I have to remember to have DC sign papers giving me access at every provider. I have to do the running around when we slip up and forget as DC has limited mobility. In some cases, they ask for a new consent every time new records are requested. I admit I have simply signed DC's name to some consent forms. DC wants me to be present at every appointment, coordinate everything, get medical records, deal with insurance, etc because, well, isn't it enough to be a full time student with several significant chronic illnesses?

When medical offices ask for DC's email, we always put down mine so I create the accounts.

I wonder how this works for kids with mental illness or limited cognitive ability.

Anonymous wrote:If I was 13 and I had an std I wouldn't want my parents to know. Great idea now kids can get treated without their parents knowing,

If a young teen (still a child) is having sex that results in an std or worse, their parents should know, because either the kid is engaging in terrible at risk behavior or the teen it being abused or exploited by someone. That same kid cannot carry her own epipen or inhaler in school without written parent permission, nor can she take her own tylenol at school, yet her parents must jumo through hoops to access her medical info?

This is stupidity at its worst.

I couldn't even ask about a billing question for my 14-year-old without her getting on the phone and giving her OK. You'd think CareFirst would want its money! I don't think she could even have dealt with the voice mail hell of getting to the right person, let alone asking about complex billing issues.

I have an older teen with chronic health problems and absolutely loathe HIPPA.

I have to remember to have DC sign papers giving me access at every provider. I have to do the running around when we slip up and forget as DC has limited mobility. In some cases, they ask for a new consent every time new records are requested. I admit I have simply signed DC's name to some consent forms. DC wants me to be present at every appointment, coordinate everything, get medical records, deal with insurance, etc because, well, isn't it enough to be a full time student with several significant chronic illnesses?

When medical offices ask for DC's email, we always put down mine so I create the accounts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't a kid actually a teenager at 13, not a tween?

Do you expect a 13 year old to contact the doctor and request a refill for Adderall? Just using that as an example of how a parent is restricted from directly contacting the pediatrician through an online portal.

Why can't the parent just call the pediatrician? I get that the online option is easier/more efficient, but is it the only way your pediatrician allows you to reach him/her for a refill?

IMO all people deserve privacy for their communications with their health care providers to the extent possible for them. Obviously, the amount a parent needs to be involved will differ based on age and capabilities.

As a parent I am totally supportive of laws and policies like this.

Most kids will eventually have to manage their medical care on their own anyway, so it makes sense to me that by the time they are teens I should not be doing it for them but modeling how they can do so for themselves.

For prescriptions, why not just show them how to mark on a calendar when to order refill and check in with them on that day to make sure it's done? Simple enough, and it serves two goals - respecting their privacy and fostering their development of independence and responsibility.

If I was 13 and I had an std I wouldn't want my parents to know. Great idea now kids can get treated without their parents knowing,

Plus, you are talking about controlled substances that can be abused.

And, keep up with homework without being reminded. Ah, no?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't a kid actually a teenager at 13, not a tween?

Do you expect a 13 year old to contact the doctor and request a refill for Adderall? Just using that as an example of how a parent is restricted from directly contacting the pediatrician through an online portal.

Is there any reason why a 13 year-old couldn't do that? I mean, other than needing to be reminded to do so?

Anonymous wrote:Isn't a kid actually a teenager at 13, not a tween?

Do you expect a 13 year old to contact the doctor and request a refill for Adderall? Just using that as an example of how a parent is restricted from directly contacting the pediatrician through an online portal.

I'm on board with this from a privacy perspective, but there has GOT to be some sort of workaround for minors who cannot request a prescription refill, etc.

Isn't a kid actually a teenager at 13, not a tween?