[Blindtlk] getting around a doctors office

Thu May 24 22:20:04 UTC 2012

Cheryl,
Great point, and they can also request a reasonable accommodation under ADA
Title II/section 504 as they do receive federal dollars in the form of
Medicare and Medicaid.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:31 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] getting around a doctors office

Good morning all:
There is something called HIPAA. which protects all of us, I believe I
posted this before, it could have been on the Diabetic Talk List.
I also still am a medical biller, I keep up my certifications.
But HIPAA is the 
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Privacy and Security Rules.
Now this protects your information as well as allowing you to have full
control of your health records, have copies of your labs, etc.
Now. in reference to a doctors office, if you tell them that you are blind,
they have to fill out the paperwork for you.
You and only you, even a family member unless you decide to let them know
all your medical issues, that the you and that doctors office only has to be
given that information.
No more getting someone to fill out the paperwork for you, if they do not do
it, you can just say I know the laws pertaining to HIPAA, and tell them if
they don't do it, you will contact the federal government.
Either by contacting Medicare or your local senator, assembly person, or
even the governor of your state if you are that close to that person.
When I went to school to study medical billing and coding back in 2007, and
by the way, I am the first blind student to graduate one of the schools here
on Long Island, and I am a recipient of the NFB NY, Scholarship back in 2008
when Anil Lewis was our National Rep. 
Anyway, when I went to school to study all of this, they went into HIPAA,
and that we were taught to assist the patient with the forms, whether or not
these people decide to do it or not comes from the office manager and the
doctor themselves, they are breaking federal laws if they ask you to have
someone fill them out.
Here in NY we are working on the Blind Patients Bill of Rights, I think it
is ridiculous that we have to do this, but as with other things that we go
through, we have to make sure that people are following the laws.
Now in reference to trying to maneuver the doctors office, independence is
learning to know how to ask for help as well, if you don't know you way
around someplace, ask the people at the office to take your arm, and assist
to where you are going.
I hope this helps.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria,
Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatrave
l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

> From: cindy425 at verizon.net
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 09:04:34 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] getting around a doctors office
> 
> When I go to a new doctor's office, I ask if someone can fill out the
forms 
> for me.  Once, a doctor's office mailed me the forms, before my
appointment. 
> I had a good friend fill them out for me.  But, I really prefer to have 
> someone in their office do it.
> 
> As far as getting around the office, when I go in, I stand, for a moment, 
> and listen to determine where the check-in desk is.  After letting them
know 
> I'm there, I ask them to direct me to an empty seat.  When I'm called to
see 
> the doctor, I ask the person who called me if I may take her arm.
> 
> I don't think it's important to spend time learning the exact layout of a 
> doctor's office.  If you just take a little time to listen and observe,
when 
> you're there, and ask for whatever help you need, you'll do fine.
> 
> Cindy
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: RJ Sandefur
> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 9:34 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [Blindtlk] getting around a doctors office
> 
> My sister took me to see my doctor, and when they called my name, I
reached 
> for her arm and she told me to use my cane. The mobility instructor says
she 
> should not have done this. My sister suggested I inquire about learning
how 
> to navigate the doctors office, but the mobility instructor says that
would 
> be a waste of time, and when I told my sister this, she asked, "What would

> you do if I wasn't around?" I have mobility tomorrow. How should I bring 
> this issue up to him? His name is Steve. When you go to a new doctor, How
do 
> you fill out the new pasent form? I'm learning all this stuff. RJ
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