{"id":195,"date":"2008-09-02T20:45:19","date_gmt":"2008-09-03T01:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/72.9.147.40\/archives\/2008\/09\/whats-in-your-mib.html"},"modified":"2018-03-20T16:59:24","modified_gmt":"2018-03-20T20:59:24","slug":"whats-in-your-mib","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/participatorymedicine.org\/epatients\/2008\/09\/whats-in-your-mib.html","title":{"rendered":"What’s in *your* MIB?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Video at http:\/\/services.brightcove.com\/services\/viewer\/federated_f8\/1418520436 is no longer available]<\/p>\n

A week ago Ted Eytan posted<\/a> about a Consumer Reports Health blog post<\/a>, including a video of a patient who is unable to get health insurance because of an error in her MIB – her Medical Information Bureau record, very much like your credit bureau record. As a direct result of the error, she’s exhausted the last bit of her 401(k) and expresses concern about not maxing out her credit cards. (And she still doesn’t have insurance.)<\/p>\n

A healthy discussion ensued in the comments there, ending with my deciding to phone the MIB and get my once-a-year free copy of my record. It arrived today, and it’s eye-opening \u2013 not because of errors per se<\/em>, but because of the nasty little details between the lines.<\/p>\n

As it happens, I got a glimpse into that system just as the doors closed. Given the opacity of the system, I shudder to think about my chances of correcting any error. Here’s what happened.<\/p>\n


\nMy comment tonight on Dr. Ted’s blog begins, “Well well WELLLLLLLL, looky what we have here: it’s e-patient Dave’s very own MIB response! Delivered in a right timely fashion – requested on 8\/27, mailed on 8\/29, received today.” It continues:<\/p>\n

The reality is interesting. It contains two (just two) medical history items. I hereby disclose all to the universe, foregoing all rights to ever get this toothpaste back in the e-tube:<\/p>\n

1. 9\/21\/01: Blood pressure, significant to health or longevity. Currently under treatment. Information obtained from licensed physicians or medical practitioners, hospitals, clinics, or other medical or medically related facilities. Within 3-5 years prior to application.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FASCinating! So, sometime 1996-1998, somebody reported me with high blood pressure, and said I’m under treatment. Bingo. I do confess it; mild hypertension in the late 1990s.<\/p>\n

But the letter assures us of their decency \u2013 the only thing in the letter that’s in boldface: The above report from XYZ Life will be deleted on 9\/22\/08 as all reports more than seven years old are eliminated from our files.<\/b><\/p>\n

So if I’d waited just four more weeks, I’d never have seen the item, nor would any further inquirer. Indeed, it’ll be expunged from my record forever, less than three weeks from now. That’s nice, considering it’s 10-12 years since the original report.<\/p>\n

But wait \u2013 there’s more! The second item in the report, from ZYX Life, is dated 11\/13\/06 and is identical, except for the ending:<\/p>\n

Blood pressure, significant to health or longevity… At some indefinite time in the past.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Booyea! The party of the second part quotes the party of the first part! No further data, but the record (nee 1996-98) lives on, rebranded as \u201csometime in the past\u201d! And it too will expire in 7 years: 2013, a mere 15-17 years since the report it’s talking about.<\/p>\n

But wait again, you say; how do we know<\/em> the second was quoting the first? Well, later in the letter is a required disclosure of every inquiry there’s ever been on my record (similar to credit inquiries), and guess who inquired on 9\/1\/06? That second company, which apparently then posted *back* into the report in November, giving my record a new life (so to speak).<\/p>\n

Did I say \u201cdisclosure of every inquiry there\u2019s ever been\u201d? How silly of me \u2013 the *information* stays for 7 years (and can evidently be “renewed”), but inquiries<\/i> are erased after just two years. Beyond that, apparently, it’s none of your business who wanted to know \u2013 which, as we’ve seen, can be the answer to how the info got there.<\/p>\n

Now do the math: ZYX made that inquiry on 9\/1\/06, and my letter was printed on 8\/29\/08, the very last business day before that inquiry was due to be erased (9\/1\/08). If I\u2019d been a day later, that little paper trail of \u201cwho was quoting what\u201d would have been gone forever.<\/p>\n

And did I say \u201cevery<\/i> inquiry\u201d? Actually,<\/p>\n

The identity of the inquiring member company is not <\/em>disclosed when [it’s an] MIB member company.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, at least their<\/i> confidentiality is ensured.<\/p>\n

Since I’m in the empowerment business, to me the central issue is that there’s a total imbalance of power here. I understand that insurance companies are at risk from fraud, hence the MIB, but we (e.g. Sheila in that video) are very much at risk from errors, and according to the letter, accuracy of the records is not the responsibility of the MIB.<\/p>\n

The original information on which the reports were based is in the possession of the reporting company. If this does not provide sufficient information for your purposes, please contact the Medical Director of the company that reported the information.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And good luck!<\/p>\n

As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. So I want to know:<\/p>\n