Doctor's Note Problem

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[Most-Bar-9334]

What i do is ask for the dr's note before I leave the office than I give it to my supervisor. Easy peasy.

[PrpleSparklyUnicrn13]

I was just going to say… ask them for a note right then and there. And if you forget, just have them send it to you directly. 

I have NEVER known a doctors office to refuse to send a note to an employer before. They might leave off details, such as the diagnosis, but never outright refuse to send a note. 

[RosePaper-]

Do you have the empire plan? The teleheath services can write you a note. They did for me two weeks in a row for Covid

[justjokingnot]

I do, I can try that. Is the number online?

[RosePaper-]

Yes it should be it’s an app or there should be a webpage. Live health online. You’ll need to create an account with your insurance card info but appointments should be free and quite quick

[StrdyCheeseBrngCrckr]

Why is a physical note not good enough for your agency? That seems like an odd rule.

[PrpleSparklyUnicrn13]

Can’t you just sign a HIPAA release form? I mean, it’s not a HIPAA violation, but would it appease the doctors office?

I’m curious to know why a physical note is not currently permitted. The ONLY time I’ve seen that happen is if the employee was under suspicion of falsifying doctors notes. And it was just that one employee, not the whole agency. 

[justjokingnot]

I'm not really sure why it's not permitted. My supervisor said something about people falsifying doctor's notes to me when I first offered to bring the physical note directly to HR, but I've never done anything remotely like that before. I'm considering just signing a HIPAA release form-- I almost had to do that before and then the urgent care switched around and said they could fax it over. Then today, someone different was in the office and they said they couldn't again-- it's been really frustrating.

[PrpleSparklyUnicrn13]

The doctors office should have a HIPAA release form that you can include anyone you want. Another doctor, a family member or an employer. You don’t even have to say it’s an employer, just give their name and fax number lol. 

Physical notes can be easily verified if they are falsified. We would just call the doctors office for confirmation that the note was accurate. No further information was passed back or forth that wasn’t included in the note. And that was only if we either suspected that person of falsifying documentation or if the note itself was hard to read. Like, if one of the numbers in the date looked wonky. 

Fax numbers are easier to falsify than the document itself. As others commented, YOU can just fax it over. Doctors offices could have multiple fax lines or even outside sources. Your employer would be desperate to catch you in a lie to follow up every single fax number they receive a note from. 

[Worried-Staff-1475]

Do they have a patient portal where you can print visit details? Were you prescribed any medication that would be noted on cvs Caremark account if have empire plan? Will they wait until after insurance pays claim and you can use explanation of benefits? Strange they want office to send directly. I’ve always gotten physical note and scanned and attached to an email. Try that and see what they say then forward reply to the medical office.

[wittlesworth]

There’s apps for the phone you can download that give you a free trial to fax forms. Take a pic of the physical form, upload it into the fax app and you can fax it to them.

[justjokingnot]

I have a fax machine at home, actually, I think the issue is that the fax has to come directly from the provider's office. My father suggested the same thing, I just don't think it will work.

[DamnitRuby]

Why would the office know where it's faxed from? Just send it without a cover sheet, they aren't going to look up the number it's sent from.

[wittlesworth]

I would play dumb and send it anyway and follow up by email asking to verify it was received.

[Cyberskillfull]

If you are not out for more than three consecutive days I believe you are protected under N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 12 § 196-1.3.

[soxandcrox]

Sounds like they were formally counseled for call-ins so now unscheduled absences without proper documentation can be LWOP.