FormulaNova said..
I was reading in the SMH that the CEO of NIB wants access to its members health records. Supposedly to improve services.
Does anyone believe this?
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Mr Fitzgibbon is hoping the fund can get permission from its 1.5 million customers to access their individual My Health Record data before 2020.Private health insurers say this data could be a way to manage higher health insurance claims being made by an ageing population and associated rising premiums, while critics warn the data may result in more exclusions and less access."We are moving to this world in which we're able to, like never before, predict, prevent and better manage or better treat diseases based on knowledge we have of your individual health profile," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
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I wouldn't be so cynical about it except health fund costs have gone up every year. Its not like they seem to be managing it well, and when they can get premium rises, they do. Its like asking an employee to improve their performance every year, but giving them a pay rise no matter what. in fact, its like giving all your employees pay rises, so they are all the same.
Where are we heading? Is it going to be the case where you have a history of some disease, so your premiums become astronomical?
There was something on 'The Last Leg' the other day about how successful the NHS has been in the UK. If they can get is right, why are we heading down the road to privatised health insurance, with insurance companies in the driving seat?
FWIW, I like that all my medical records are available to the doctors, and the hospital. It saves a lot of hassle. I do get nervous though when its the insurance companies that are asking for access to that information.
FWIW - it would be very odd for a private health company to not have a good understanding of your health status...
When I was in IT on contract at a private hospital, the person in admin worth their weight in a very precious metal was the medical coder..
The codes used were chosen to extract the maximum from the health fund but essentially mapped the treatment.. it was less obvious for co-morbidity issues. So apart from emergency department visits (very few are run in private hospitals) a private patient maps their health by asking for insurance claims (directly or indirectly)..
Access to the written notes would help your insurer where they carry details of generational information if there is a disputed or court case.
So go on-line and define your privacy settings..
I find that the best laid plans of mice or men are often thwarted by common practice of an individual which bye-passes the plan...
I went for a sleep test via GP referral... I asked for a copy of the emailed referral and yep the tech's had my medical record
... So private / privacy and all the public arousal on this issue is..... commonly made available through another door..
Cheers
AP
