Whoa, nelly!....I think there's some confusion.....first, the "new privacy act papers" you signed were simply an acknowledgement of the fact that your(you fill in the blank, as all entities you come in contact with will have you sign one) physician's office, specialists office, pharmacy, insurance company, dentist, mental health professional.has infromed you of their compliance with HIPAA, and that they have informed you of your rights regarding "protected health information"...and it has nothing whatsoever to do with homeland security....the papaers you signed came about because the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act of 1996" finally went into full effect with regrard to new Privacy Standards requiring all healthcare providers, most insurance carriers, employers, thrid party payors, & claims clearinghouses to conform to HIPAA guidelines. Essentially, except for in the course of treatment and payment for services rendered, none of those entities may release any personally identifiable protected health information about you to any other entity, without your express, specific written consent.
This is a good thing. It actually means that unless you give doctor A specific written consent to talk to Dr B, he cannot. And most certainly, your insurance carrier, under HIPAA, couldn't have called one Dr and give hime such info about your seeing any other doctors. Your state may have monitoring laws and systems set up, and this is the most likely culprit...but it had nothing to do with HIPAA...Also, be aware of the kinds of releeases you DO sign, each time you visit the physician. NEVER sign a "blanket release", that gives a doctor the right to discuss or request and/or send records to any other treatment professionals ....agree only to sign specific releases, naming which individuals may exchange info...ie Dr. Smith may release records and consult with Dr Johnson in relation treatement of (________________condition). I'm the Privacy and Compliance Officer for a Medical Imaging Facility....I had to become very well versed in HIPAA.... here's a link http://answers.hhs.gov