[pachyderm]

Yesterday I went to a doctor's new office, and they scanned my insurance card as well as my driver's license to put into their new system, and took a picture of me with some kind of Webcam. I suppose this is standard procedure these days, but it still seems somewhat strange to me. You used to be able to go to a doctor without having to prove that you are you. Anyone know why they are doing this nowadays? Is there now a legal requirement?

[possum220]

I dont know pachy.

Where my doctor is there is another person who shares my name. Maybe it helps them to identify the real me.

Maybe it also has something to do with the healthcare reform that is happening in your country?

Just guessing.

[Typo]

I can't say I've ran into this, of course I live in a very rural area nothing is ever up to techonlogical speed here, in fact everything is still done by hand at my dr's office and T's office. I think possum may be onto something to do with health care reform, or maybe to help with idenity theft and insurance fraud?

[Amazonmom]

The Federal Trade Commission has a set of Red Flag Rules to prevent identity theft. If you routinely bill people for services after they have been rendered, you are a creditor and end up needing to create a plan to prevent identity theft of your clients. It is unclear about which types of medical providers need to do this.

It stinks big time and a lot of medical providers hate doing it. I think it just makes a huge repository of private info that criminals would love to have. Stealing info from medical systems is already a huge source of identity theft.

[AAAAA]

The law has changed; I had a leaflet from my doctor’s office at one point. We live in a small town and have been seeing the same doctor for 10 years, they know us by sight. We haven’t even had to check in for years. When we’d walk into the office, they’d nod and hold up our chart without us even having to go to the window.

A couple of months ago the receptionist motioned for me to come to the window. They took a copy of my driver’s license and placed a copy in my records. There is now a sign up that says we must show our ID every time we go in.

Same thing with me at the VA (Where I already had a VA picture ID card.).

[Umbral_Seraph]

I'm surprised at the number of people surprised by this. Everyone I've ever seen since I turned 18 has photocopied my DL and insurance card; dentist, gen-doc, pdoc, T, everyone. I think the primary reason is to keep people from using someone else's prescriptions/insurance to get ahold of controlled medications.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by Umbral_Seraph

I'm surprised at the number of people surprised by this. Everyone I've ever seen since I turned 18 has photocopied my DL and insurance card; dentist, gen-doc, pdoc, T, everyone.

Some of us are old, unlike you! This is something that has only happened in the last few years, and this is the first time I have had to have my picture taken. You used to be able to just go into a doctor's or dentist's office and get treated!

[Hippie]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Some of us are old, unlike you! This is something that has only happened in the last few years, and this is the first time I have had to have my picture taken. You used to be able to just go into a doctor's or dentist's office and get treated!

New to me too Pachy. Had my license taken to be photo copied the other day for first time AND the bar code on the back scanned. They didn't take my picture though, probably knew the camera would break. What's next? Finger prints?

I walked out of several places that wanted personal information to get a haircut. When I left the last place, I gave them a hair and suggested they find out from the DNA.

I am an old geezer. Nonetheless, to have to give information to get a haircut or an oil change seems more than ridiculous.

[Typo]

Dang, guess I'm going to be in for a shock when I finally move out of the boonies! Granted I have to fill out paper work when going to dr, dentist, T, etc, but that is only on first visit, no medical professional has asked to photocopy my drivers lisence, even when I had to go to the hospital to have some tests ran. I had to show my insurance card, and confirm my date of birth and social security number and that was all....

Yes this is the thing nowadays--you have to prove you exist. Wait a minute, do I? lol

Laughing--really? for a haircut? an oil change?--You're pulling my leg, Byzantine!!

I is gullible but not that gullible. theo

[pachyderm]

I asked the doctor who is giving a course that I am taking on medical advances of the 20th century, and he said (FWIW) there are no new laws that mandate this sort of thing.

[AAAAA]

Perhaps its a state thing, as I mentioned, when they asked for a copy of my DL, they have me a leaflet explaining changes in the law.

[perpetuallysad]

I don't think its a mandate, at least not here where I live. But what they told me is that they use it to track you down for collections purposes. They even take a picture of ME when I take my son to the dr because I am the responsible billing party.

I think its bs.

[Skully]

That sounds awfully strange...I have never had my picture taken by my doctor!

[Beholden]

In the late 990's when I was a receptionist at a dentist, I had to take new patients pictures with a polorid. It was for their charts, so that I or anyone else (staff) would know just by looking who that person was.

In this case, it was because the dentist wanted all of us calling them by their correct name.

It also helped him know who was coming in the next day, when he looked in their charts if he forgot them.

It seemed strange to me because that was never anything that I'd run across up until that point.

I haven't had to do that ever at my doctor's office. Well, I do have to show my ID card when I see my docs at the Military Hospital. That's just standard practice. There is a photo on it. I hadn't thought of that.....but I don't mind, it helps me get service.

[Umbral_Seraph]

I've had my picture taken by a couple of doctors; it's pretty rare that any of them do this. However, it's interesting that my picture was taken when I took my GRE.

[buttrfli42481]

My OBGYN has done the picture thing, but they are the only ones. The rest of my drs have copies of my driver's license and insurance cards (when I have it). It is to aid in collections and to make sure they are treating the correct patient. At the hospitals around here they always ask to either see your wrist band or your full name and date of birth. That makes me feel safer, knowing that they have the correct chart.

And, to the poster who asked about fingerprints, yes that is in the future. Just like snowflakes, no two fingerprints are exactly alike. It is a shame that this is what this world is coming to. That we cannot trust each other to be who we say we are. IMO, better safe than sorry.

I drew the line when I was asked for a picture to confirm I was the one in the coupon for one free trip to the pay restroom.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

I drew the line when I was asked for a picture to confirm I was the one in the coupon for one free trip to the pay restroom.

Sometimes, Byz, I find it hard to know exactly the meaning of what you are saying...