Opinion ID: 1714111
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Records Release

Text: ¶ 101. As the lead opinion correctly notes, patient health care records prepared by health care providers are confidential. Wis. Stat. § 146.82(1). The lead opinion appears to assume, without expressly deciding, that Charlotte waived the confidentiality of some of her records because it analyzes whether the information contained in those records constituted a waiver under Chapter 905. ¶ 102. Two categories of records are at issue. The first category encompasses Charlotte's billing records from various medical providers. Section 146.82(2)(a)3. specifically authorizes release of records [t]o the extent that the records are needed for billing, collection or payment of claims. Charlotte repeatedly wrote her father to ask for money and she appears to have sent him some of her bills directly. She wrote her father on February 12, 1992, you should receive a bill [from Kay Phillips], and on April 22, 1992, I will transfer the bills for prior hospitalizations to you . . . I will mail the bills later this week. ¶ 103. While Charlotte may have sent some billing records directly, she undoubtedly caused other billing records to be sent to her father for payment. In his sworn affidavit, Dr. Johnson described the billing records he received from Rogers Memorial Hospital, South Street Clinic, Kay Phillips and her employer, Heartland Counseling Services, Grand Teton Mental Health Consultants (for Dr. Israelstam), St. Marys Hospital, and Waukesha Memorial Hospital. It is unlikely that six different providers would have sent medical bills to Dr. Johnson in St. Louis without Charlotte's explicit authorization. By this authorization, Charlotte waived any applicable privilege under § 146.82 with respect to these records. ¶ 104. A second set of records relates to an intake report filled out upon Charlotte's admittance to St. Marys Hospital. At intake, Charlotte voluntarily filled out a form empowering St. Marys to disclose some of her medical records. The form allows the patient to determine the purpose of the disclosure and to decide exactly what information will be disclosed by checking boxes on the form. ¶ 105. Charlotte indicated that the purpose of disclosure was to show her progress. She signed a form stating I hereby request and authorize St. Marys Hospital Medical Center to provide access to my hospital records to Dr. Charles Johnson (father) to show her progress. This authorization was signed several months after she had accused Dr. Johnson to his face of sexually abusing her. ¶ 106. Charlotte also checked the box marked The specific information listed here, to indicate what information should be disclosed. By hand, she then made the following notations: medical (physical) test results; medications prescribed; general progress. ¶ 107. Under the umbrella of general progress, St. Marys released Charlotte's admission report, some consultation notes, and a discharge report to Dr. Johnson. ¶ 108. In her deposition, Charlotte conceded the possibility that her father required her to provide some medical records if she wanted him to continue paying for her treatment. This can be seen in the following exchange between counsel for Rogers Memorial Hospital and Charlotte: Q: . . . Do you know if it's possible that your dad required some sort of update on your treatment in exchange for making any types of payments for your medical bills? A: It's possible. I'm not aware of it, but it is possible. ¶ 109. This concession mirrors Dr. Johnson's sworn statement that I asked Charlotte to provide me with information regarding her care. ¶ 110. Charlotte waived the confidentiality of the admission report, consultation notes, and discharge report by signing the release form as she did and by her statements at the deposition. ¶ 111. In any event, Charlotte's voluntary admissions at her deposition duplicate much of the information in these reports.