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Is this even legal?

smigon

smigon

Old enough to know better
My husband's older sister Cindy had breast cancer, as did his grandmother and several aunts.

Because of this, Jim's younger sister is 35 and wanted to have a mammogram done. She has insurance, but they wouldn't sign off on the request because she is too young (40 is apparently the age you should start checking). She explained her female relatives had breast cancer and she wanted to check. They told her the only way they would even consider it would be to get Cindy's medical records proving she had cancer.

There has GOT to be a law against asking for another patient's medical records.

What do you think?
 
It is legal if Cindy signs a release for it. But Im sure there is a way around this. She needs to have her doctors say it is medically necessary (the doctor needs to order the mammogram based on her history- not Cindy go in for a mammogram on her own) and insurance is more likely to cover it.
 
A physician's order, and family history should be all that's required. If they won't budge, many hospitals and clinics offer reduced pricing for uninsured, and underinsured patients.

Kathy
 
There is also a blood test she can request. They call them blood markers. BRCA1, BRCA2
I think. Double check.
 
Thanks, all. I will let her know the options she has. I don't think Cindy would mind regarding the records, but for a doctor to insist on Cindy's records? It just doesn't seem right to me.
 
I started having mammo's at 36 for the same reason. The reason that most mammo's are done starting at 40 is because younger breast tissue is usually more dense and it's almost too hard to spot anything. As you age, breast tissue tends to become more fatty and less dense making it easier to spot changes. It is less difficult now with the advent of digital x-ray and mechanical as well as radiologist readings. They are first scanned by a machine that notes densities and then double checked by a radiologist. The testing for the BRACA gene is a blood test, but it's a genetics test. Some insurance won't cover it. I saw a geneticist that said I was at higher risk due to family history but my insurance wouldn't pay for the genetics testing to prove I had the gene. There is no simple blood test that will show the marker......Her physician should be able to give her a mammo referral and just put high risk or even put down that there was a lump palpated....although that will put it into a different category and may make for more films. I had no trouble getting my mammo's at 36 but I don't know what insurance you have....Obamacare will probably only pay for standard mammo's at the age recommended. However, if you show high risk, normally they will allow for earlier films.
 
Not exactly my area of expertise, but here's a nice resource:

http://health.costhelper.com/mammogram.html

"During the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, some community or women's groups offer free or very low-cost mammograms, sometimes using a mobile clinic. To find a program, call the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Care Helpline at 1-800 I'M AWARE (1-800-462-9273). Or contact the YWCA's ENCOREplus[3] program any time for a referral for a free or low-cost mammogram."
 
Awesome. Thanks for the info, I will let her know her options.

"Hooray for boobies!" - from a sign in October in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-a-Thon

"Save Second Base!" - another sign I saw that day
 
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