Health Incorporated Syndicated System ( Hiss ) - 1140 Words

Health Incorporated Syndicated System (HISS) is a multihospital for-profit corporation that seeks to remain profitable. Mr. Monet Graber is the CFO of HISS and he implements a debt collection component to the emergency room (ER) in the hopes to increase profits and reduce bad debt. He contracts with Thomas (Tommy) Gunn, CEO of Bottom Line Recovery debt recovery agency to provide debt collector in each ER of HISS. These debtor collectors pose as admission clerks wearing hospital identification, but are not employed by the hospital. They are to collect $200 upfront from patients who enter the ER for non-life-threatening health issues. The plan appears to be successful. Revenues have increased in the ER and bad debt is down after one month†¦show more content†¦Such information is covered under the federal law Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prohibits the sharing of patient information to any third party outside of the doctor-patient relations hip without the consent of the patient (Johnson Weinstock, 2012). Treatment, payment and healthcare operations are the only circumstances that allow personal patient health information to be relayed without patient consent (Johnson Weinstock, 2012). Although, the debt collectors were discussing payment they are not hospital employees; therefore, the CFO violated HIPAA. The debt collectors work for a debt organization. The debt collectors are not employees of the hospital; however, they pose as healthcare workers. The hospital is violating the rights of their patrons as patients. Confidential patient information is shared with workers not associated with the hospital. The secondary issues are harassment, fraudulent practices, patient endangerment, and decrease in revenue due to penalties and lawsuits. If the patients can prove that the hospital violated HIPPA laws, then the government can impose fines. Hospitals are fined when HIPPA laws are violated (Johnson Weinstock, 2012). Therefore the hospital may lose revenues through fines and lawsuits. Patient can also sue if investigation proves violation of HIPPA. Also, the debt collectors are too aggressive, which some may view as harassment measures for bill payment. The patients are offered