Marketing and sharing of PHI and the sale of PHI is a new issue, Is it legal. Marketing as making a communication about a product or service . Example patient's are being called by Medical supply companies wanting to send back braces, knee braces to the patients home "stating they are approved by Medicare and
Medicaid, They ask to patient if they have ever complained about back and knee pain. They will bill the product to Medicare and Medicaid - but who supplies to prescription to these insurance companies? What diagnosis is given? Is this considered Fraud? How did they get the patient's name? HIPAA is constantly changing and a coder needs to be aware these types of release of information. Certain types of marketing require a express, written authorization by the patient. Billers and Coders need to update their HIPAA rules
yearly.
