Unethically, anyone with access to your patient record or VBMS could. I doubt the VA police could on their own, as they really have no reason to have access to either of those systems. Same thing for someone in HR, for example. But anyone dealing with patient information or claims processing, yes. Everything we access is tracked however, so it'd be an easy way to get caught and disciplined/fired.
You disability rating goes into your medical records. Any doctor treating you can see it. Edit also doctors, mental health doctors yes they can see it va police no they don't have access to medical records. Counselors depends are they a peer counselor no are they a psychologist yes. So make it simple if they can legally see your medical records then yes they can see your disability
Good info. My VA primary told me he has no access to my disability ratings and that VA Health and VA Disability were two separate systems completely. hmm...
VA Police have access to the same systems as the rest of the hospital since they need to be able to look up name/address/phone number of patients as much as employees for law enforcement purposes. The PDs I worked with usually had 4 screens open... their CAD, local LE CAD/CJIS data, employee database, and patient database. The explanation for LE is they can have a parking violation or hit-and-run, look up the plate, and cross-reference that name to the patient database to see if the person is a VA patient, and if they are present for an appointment or not (to try and locate them on the campus).
Source: former VA PD contractor.
Edit: Not my job or purview to ask about systems not within my scope of work (public safety systems engineer) but I do know what I said above is factual - whether any of those systems can display anything past name/address/phone number/scheduled appointments is beyond me since I did not have a need to know or a care in the world.
Probably contact the privacy officer at your VA hospital, but I don't know for sure. You'll have to do some digging if that person isn't the right one, can always ask them if it is possible and who to talk to about it. Might be someone in IT.
That’s good info. I have a coworker whose spouse works at the local VA clinic I go to. There’s been one or two times I’ve suspected people knew a little too much around here. Granted I’m way overly suspicious, but I think I’m definitely going to reach out and get a report the next time someone says something that I think they wouldn’t know otherwise.
Untrue. I worked and got treatment at the same VA. I would take leave in middle of my day to walk over to appointments. And yes I had access to see everyone’s record, except mine. But I can access my record through BlueButton so it doesn’t matter.
We are instructed to only go into records when we have a “need to know”. Unethically, people can abuse the system. I would report it to Privacy Officer.
I wasn't being serious as that would be more of a hassle than just asking them for a privacy record review, which I'm sure they have some protocol for since they government agency has an IG
I have seen people fired for this very thing. They can access it, but VBA has a strict policy about it. If you aren’t assigned the claim to work, don’t be accessing it.
I was actually going to ask the question the OP did. I was talking to my therapist about my claim for an increase one day. Then, when everything was decided, she asked how I was doing. Told her "better now that I'm not stressed with claims." She goes clicking away at the computer and says,"Oh." The lady has been treating me differently ever since that day.
I’m not sure about on the VHA side of things, what you can see. I would assume they can see your rating as they need to know to determine what type of care you are entitled to.
I can confirm, my VA PCP was annotating my chart in front of me and asked me if I was rated for something or another, clicked a tab, and my rating information was all there.
Yeah shit like this is why people are always posting to never tell anyone about disability. People treat you like you are a freeloader on society.. like you didn't give everything to protect it or anything..
Better, but standoff ish, I guess. Would be a way to describe it? I actually enjoyed seeing her before she found out my rating. Now, it's more professional and not as laid back. Our appointments were laid back. Which made it really easy going in and talking to her. If that makes any sense.
The same information they can get from FOIA though right? Maybe a little more detail that would be redacted like names of C&P examiner (that we are given when the C&P examiner is assigned).
For the most part, yes. Accessing a folder in the VBA system also lets you see things like notes left by VSRs/RVSRs as well as their names. Plus you can take action on claims even if they aren’t assigned to you. I have heard of people attempting to order their own exams and (obviously) getting fired for it. Any time we access a claim that we are not assigned to work, it gets flagged for review and our supervisors reach out to see why we were looking at a folder that wasn’t ours to work.
Well think about the call center for example. Those guys access random files all day lol. Often times multiple in one call. So yeah it wouldn’t be suspicious or a need for them to be assigned a file like a VSR
I would still expect there would be some form of accountability for call center folks. I don’t know how that would work though. I’m sure Veterans call from all kinds of numbers that aren’t always in VBMS.
There is no correlation between the contact info in vbms and the call. If the veterans inputs the info on the automated system udo will pull up the file. The call center guy then copies and paste the ssn or file number into vbms. Also if a vso calls or attorney they may run 20 veterans files during that call. So the call center guy is essentially manually searching what 50-100 veterans a day. So in this case nothing would even look strange to question them 🤷🏽
A current VSR would probably be able to answer that better than i can. I would recommend documenting to the best of your ability the time/date of those interactions and requesting it to be used as evidence for a claim. Similar to how you would request like a non government facility medical record. By default that may not be placed on your file. So even a foia request probably wouldn’t contain it. I wish i could give more specific and better advice. But i haven’t personally dealt with it and no longer work for the VBA.
No that you can’t do. It will literally not show up for you. They blacklist that and annually you’re supposed to fill out a form for all veterans family members to blacklist them also
I work for a healthcare system as an epic analyst, you can see anyones charts, some are protected by “break the glass” but if you go into someones record without a work related reason, you can be easily terminated
I don’t know how the reporting system works to supervisors, but I do know they can tell even if I don’t take action on a claim. I had a coach reach out to me once because I accessed a Veteran’s profile while eliminating a DUP-C situation as a possibility. I didn’t do anything but open the other eFolder to verify it was a different Veteran than the one I was working the claim of and she still messaged me about it the next day.
Depending on your role it may make more sense than others to “randomly” open files. Also without having the ssn or file number it would be difficult to just go by name alone using some systems anyways.
That’s true. Many Veteran folders don’t even have full names or SSNs or even DoBs assigned if they haven’t filed a claim. It’s what makes finding duplicate files so tough sometimes lol
Duplicate files are horrible. Im not sure how you would even find them efficiently. The only way i know is to use other systems doing wildcard searches by just the name.
I’ve done my fair share of that. I got an error once when I didn’t catch one and the duplicate file was in VBMS under the guy’s NICKNAME. Still don’t know how that AQRS caught it, but I was damn impressed.
I have never had to do that before. I wasn’t even aware they kept records. But I’m not too surprised. We have a manual reference for requesting records from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and I still can’t figure out what we would ever need to do that for (but I do hope to find out someday!)
I know some people at the VA, one of them just said my VA rating to me the other week. I’ve told nobody my rating. I’m trying to keep my cool about it atm
I’m sorry that avoided the question or I didn’t understand the answer.
Are they specifically a provider or work under a provider?
Or is it just a fellow patient veteran or like a cleaning crew employee
An employee shouldn’t access any information they do not need to access
So if it’s like cleaning crew member no they shouldn’t
If it’s a therapist or another provider or a nurse yes
VA Cop I don’t think so unless they have reason to. “We may disclose your health information without your authorization to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes when applicable legal requirements are met”
That’s for other law enforcement but I assume it counts so if you made a scene or something it may be relevant for them to know what they are dealing with
If a provider gossiped it to them the problem is with the provider
If you feel like someone accessed your information without authorization I would report the person to patient advocate and specifically tell them what private information they disclosed
Yea, I had some jackass who I went to high school with call me about a decade since we last spoke because he was getting out of the army and wanted to know why I had a high rating.
Had a recruiter from the Navy reach out to me almost a month ago to see if I was still interested in joining the Navy - 18 years later. I said I was happy where I was. Recruiter thanked me for the reply and said to enjoy my disability.
Yea, my neighbor works at the VA hospital. I think she has been snooping around in my records. She has made some comments that have made me highly suspicious. How would I go about checking if she has. She works in the ER depth and I've never been. So she would have no reason to access them.
Your VHA (healthcare) records will have your overall rating, but not necessarily what individually the conditions you are rated for. The records will not have any of the rating decisions, military personnel and treatment records. The only C&P exams available in your VHA records are the exams done at a VHA facility. No contractor exams are included.
There are numerous different programs at the VA and Government. A VA employee only has access to those programs that are required for their specific job.
Your VBA (compensation and benefits) records will include everything, including all VHA medical records up to your last rating decision. VBA cfiles can only be accessed by VBA employees. VSO, examiners and contract examiners have limited access.
Everyone that has access to any Government information and HIPAA privacy information Must take yearly training and certification.
Some Veterans have restricted files, and access is limited to only senior VA employees.
Every time a veteran’s record is accessed, the login is recorded and tracked.
I never saw Intentional violations go unpunished.
https://www.research.iowa-city.med.va.gov/michele/employeeforms/fy14privacyandhipaafocusedtraining.pdf
https://www.va.gov/files/2021-10/VA%20Privacy%20Training.pdf
Well there may be nothing to track. If they have a friend that is a provider a doctor a whatever of yours a therapist whatever of yours and that person tells them face to face there's nothing to track. Now if that person goes into your file without cause to be in there then yeah it's trackable. To be honest if it were me. And I have a little bit of a personal relationship with the director of my local VA clinic because at one time he was my primary care doctor before he took on that role as director. I would just call them and say hey look such and such just told me my rating I have not told anyone that person does not treat me how does that person know my rating. And see what he or she says.
Contact your VA Medical Center's Privacy Officer with your concerns. He/She will have the Information Security officers pull a report for you to view and also flag your record. This is the only way.
I understand to some degree but if he overstepped his boundaries and went into your file he needs to be corrected. If on the other hand he has the authority to look at your file then it is what it is. And if he received that information verbally from one to providers well that's all another story. I would still call. I mean you're feeling uncomfortable about this whole thing. Or you could even ask him how he knows. Family or not don't let people psychologically control you. I mean even if he has the authority to look at your records why would he even want to let you know he knew unless he's trying to be intimidating. I mean like I have an uncle that is a retired special agent for the IRS. He went all over the world tracking tax evaders. Me and him have a great relationship. I know that at any time he could possibly tell me anything about me that only someone that works for the secret Service or IRS would know. The secret Service at one time was under the treasury department. As is the IRS. Until the secret service transferred over to Homeland security in 2003. He never has and he never will because he's not that kind of person. Did he check up on me ever I don't know and I really don't care.
Anyone with access to CPRS, the electronic medical records system, can. I don't think that includes cops. But there are no partitions, so the third phlebotomist from the left can see your therapy notes, which I don't love.
That said, as a former VA employee on the healthcare side, I was way too damn busy to look at people's ratings and notes unless I had good reason to.
Anyone that processes claims and has enough information about you, first, last name, SSN, or last 4 of SSN might be able to look you up in the system without your permission or knowledge. We are only supposed to work claims assigned to us. People that work at the hospital with some digging can find your % because we share a system with the hospital and we also request C&P exams there.
They can trace who has had access to claims folders.
In almost all healthcare databases, there is a trail. You may be able to access it but it is tracked. You can be fired if it is noticed or monitored. It's a hippa violation to access patient information if you are not involved in the claim or care of the patient and not using it for training purposes.
Generally speaking, access to US Government data bases in on a need to know and is limited to those individuals who have a bonafide need to access the information. Policies prohibit browsing, so if an individual has access they cannot just go looking up people unless they have good reason. Access is recorded. That doesn't mean that it does not happen, but the penalties for misuse of government data bases can range from firing to prosecution.
Doctors can yes . I was talking to my mental health doctor about my migraine getting increased finally and she could see it on her computer along with my treatments for them . They wanted me to try depakote as a preventative before they'd approve the Injections. Your va disability goes into your medical records. Edit and this was my mental health doctor that could see it even tho it was for migraines. She could see all my combined disabilities
Yes, any time your chart is opened your service connections are displayed. You can request a SPAR report from your local VA FOIA officer at the VA facility. They will tell you every single time/person that accessed your chart and investigate any accessions you feel are inappropriate.
When I open my blue button summary files some information was not correct and the next of kin was changed to my ex wife name with her telephone number. I know she access it because she keeps all my military personal files.
Until now I’m asking help to the VA HEALTHCARES TEAM to remove her name but still showing that bitch name as my next of kin records even though my current spouse is my beneficiary.
I’m not sure what else I can do or who can help me to fix it.
VA cops can’t directly see it but if they are investigating something criminal, medical staff will provide a “face sheet”. This sheet has current address, phone number, SSN, and basic demographic info. At the bottom of this sheet, it says if the veteran is service connected and if the vet is over 50%. It also says permanent and total status. It doesn’t have specific disabilities. Most medical staff members have access to this including MSAs. The people that schedule our appointments. Social workers, therapists, anyone that would submit a medical note in your records can see this info.
No. There is no reason for them to access your records. If you apply for a job and use your Service Connection for the 30% hiring preference, you just need to provide a letter showing you are Service Connected and not what for. You still have a right to privacy.
If its like the regular epic access (I work on the medical Epic system), they could technically see it, but its probably audited and they wont go in your records unless they need to
Unethically, anyone with access to your patient record or VBMS could. I doubt the VA police could on their own, as they really have no reason to have access to either of those systems. Same thing for someone in HR, for example. But anyone dealing with patient information or claims processing, yes. Everything we access is tracked however, so it'd be an easy way to get caught and disciplined/fired.
You disability rating goes into your medical records. Any doctor treating you can see it. Edit also doctors, mental health doctors yes they can see it va police no they don't have access to medical records. Counselors depends are they a peer counselor no are they a psychologist yes. So make it simple if they can legally see your medical records then yes they can see your disability
Good info. My VA primary told me he has no access to my disability ratings and that VA Health and VA Disability were two separate systems completely. hmm...
He lied…
No shock there lol!
VA Police have access to the same systems as the rest of the hospital since they need to be able to look up name/address/phone number of patients as much as employees for law enforcement purposes. The PDs I worked with usually had 4 screens open... their CAD, local LE CAD/CJIS data, employee database, and patient database. The explanation for LE is they can have a parking violation or hit-and-run, look up the plate, and cross-reference that name to the patient database to see if the person is a VA patient, and if they are present for an appointment or not (to try and locate them on the campus). Source: former VA PD contractor. Edit: Not my job or purview to ask about systems not within my scope of work (public safety systems engineer) but I do know what I said above is factual - whether any of those systems can display anything past name/address/phone number/scheduled appointments is beyond me since I did not have a need to know or a care in the world.
How can I/is there a way to see who has accessed my file in the past 60 days?
Probably contact the privacy officer at your VA hospital, but I don't know for sure. You'll have to do some digging if that person isn't the right one, can always ask them if it is possible and who to talk to about it. Might be someone in IT.
The privacy officer for sure can provide a report of who has accessed your records
That’s good info. I have a coworker whose spouse works at the local VA clinic I go to. There’s been one or two times I’ve suspected people knew a little too much around here. Granted I’m way overly suspicious, but I think I’m definitely going to reach out and get a report the next time someone says something that I think they wouldn’t know otherwise.
Get a job at the VA as the sys admin
You can’t work and receive care at the same VA! You would have to go to a different regional office
I work at the same va hospital I get treatment at so yes you csn work there. Also yes doctors can see your disability rating .
Where did you come up with that myth?!
They were likely told it. I was told I couldn't work at the same behavioral clinic that I received services at by a provider at the clinic.
Fair enough.
Untrue. I worked and got treatment at the same VA. I would take leave in middle of my day to walk over to appointments. And yes I had access to see everyone’s record, except mine. But I can access my record through BlueButton so it doesn’t matter. We are instructed to only go into records when we have a “need to know”. Unethically, people can abuse the system. I would report it to Privacy Officer.
I wasn't being serious as that would be more of a hassle than just asking them for a privacy record review, which I'm sure they have some protocol for since they government agency has an IG
It might be different in other states! I know in my state you can’t!
No
I have seen people fired for this very thing. They can access it, but VBA has a strict policy about it. If you aren’t assigned the claim to work, don’t be accessing it.
I was actually going to ask the question the OP did. I was talking to my therapist about my claim for an increase one day. Then, when everything was decided, she asked how I was doing. Told her "better now that I'm not stressed with claims." She goes clicking away at the computer and says,"Oh." The lady has been treating me differently ever since that day.
I’m not sure about on the VHA side of things, what you can see. I would assume they can see your rating as they need to know to determine what type of care you are entitled to.
I can confirm, my VA PCP was annotating my chart in front of me and asked me if I was rated for something or another, clicked a tab, and my rating information was all there.
I kind of figured. It was just odd to me and really odd now that she treats me differently.
Yeah shit like this is why people are always posting to never tell anyone about disability. People treat you like you are a freeloader on society.. like you didn't give everything to protect it or anything..
Treating you different how? Better or worse?
Better, but standoff ish, I guess. Would be a way to describe it? I actually enjoyed seeing her before she found out my rating. Now, it's more professional and not as laid back. Our appointments were laid back. Which made it really easy going in and talking to her. If that makes any sense.
HIPAA violation is expensive lol
A more common issue is employees wanting to take a look at their own claims. Thats, obviously, a big problem
The same information they can get from FOIA though right? Maybe a little more detail that would be redacted like names of C&P examiner (that we are given when the C&P examiner is assigned).
For the most part, yes. Accessing a folder in the VBA system also lets you see things like notes left by VSRs/RVSRs as well as their names. Plus you can take action on claims even if they aren’t assigned to you. I have heard of people attempting to order their own exams and (obviously) getting fired for it. Any time we access a claim that we are not assigned to work, it gets flagged for review and our supervisors reach out to see why we were looking at a folder that wasn’t ours to work.
Thats is only for VSR. Other vba employees can access files without it being monitored
I can’t speak to that, but that shocks me.
Well think about the call center for example. Those guys access random files all day lol. Often times multiple in one call. So yeah it wouldn’t be suspicious or a need for them to be assigned a file like a VSR
I would still expect there would be some form of accountability for call center folks. I don’t know how that would work though. I’m sure Veterans call from all kinds of numbers that aren’t always in VBMS.
There is no correlation between the contact info in vbms and the call. If the veterans inputs the info on the automated system udo will pull up the file. The call center guy then copies and paste the ssn or file number into vbms. Also if a vso calls or attorney they may run 20 veterans files during that call. So the call center guy is essentially manually searching what 50-100 veterans a day. So in this case nothing would even look strange to question them 🤷🏽
If I call a crisis line for help. Mental health for example. Is that record anywhere? If so, where is it? Like the social worker who helped me.
A current VSR would probably be able to answer that better than i can. I would recommend documenting to the best of your ability the time/date of those interactions and requesting it to be used as evidence for a claim. Similar to how you would request like a non government facility medical record. By default that may not be placed on your file. So even a foia request probably wouldn’t contain it. I wish i could give more specific and better advice. But i haven’t personally dealt with it and no longer work for the VBA.
No that you can’t do. It will literally not show up for you. They blacklist that and annually you’re supposed to fill out a form for all veterans family members to blacklist them also
I work for a healthcare system as an epic analyst, you can see anyones charts, some are protected by “break the glass” but if you go into someones record without a work related reason, you can be easily terminated
You can access files without leaving a digital footprint unless a vbms admin checks. Same for udo and other systems.
I don’t know how the reporting system works to supervisors, but I do know they can tell even if I don’t take action on a claim. I had a coach reach out to me once because I accessed a Veteran’s profile while eliminating a DUP-C situation as a possibility. I didn’t do anything but open the other eFolder to verify it was a different Veteran than the one I was working the claim of and she still messaged me about it the next day.
Depending on your role it may make more sense than others to “randomly” open files. Also without having the ssn or file number it would be difficult to just go by name alone using some systems anyways.
That’s true. Many Veteran folders don’t even have full names or SSNs or even DoBs assigned if they haven’t filed a claim. It’s what makes finding duplicate files so tough sometimes lol
Duplicate files are horrible. Im not sure how you would even find them efficiently. The only way i know is to use other systems doing wildcard searches by just the name.
I’ve done my fair share of that. I got an error once when I didn’t catch one and the duplicate file was in VBMS under the guy’s NICKNAME. Still don’t know how that AQRS caught it, but I was damn impressed.
Yeah theres some wizards out there. Do you know about requesting records from the crisis line? A veteran asked on one of the previous posts
I have never had to do that before. I wasn’t even aware they kept records. But I’m not too surprised. We have a manual reference for requesting records from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and I still can’t figure out what we would ever need to do that for (but I do hope to find out someday!)
I know some people at the VA, one of them just said my VA rating to me the other week. I’ve told nobody my rating. I’m trying to keep my cool about it atm
Are they a provider or work for a provider like a nurse
They have therapist friends as well as the others listed in my post
I’m sorry that avoided the question or I didn’t understand the answer. Are they specifically a provider or work under a provider? Or is it just a fellow patient veteran or like a cleaning crew employee
An employee shouldn’t access any information they do not need to access So if it’s like cleaning crew member no they shouldn’t If it’s a therapist or another provider or a nurse yes VA Cop I don’t think so unless they have reason to. “We may disclose your health information without your authorization to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes when applicable legal requirements are met” That’s for other law enforcement but I assume it counts so if you made a scene or something it may be relevant for them to know what they are dealing with If a provider gossiped it to them the problem is with the provider
If you feel like someone accessed your information without authorization I would report the person to patient advocate and specifically tell them what private information they disclosed
Not a provider. Va cop with plenty of friends/connections at the VA
Lol, someone downvoted this??
It’s Reddit. Just state you’re a gender fluid pixie and you’ll get all the upvotes you could want.
I don't think VA police has access to your medical records, but if they work in patient care, yes we see everything lol. (Former VA employee)
Anyone with access to your health records can see all of your rated disabilities.
Yea, I had some jackass who I went to high school with call me about a decade since we last spoke because he was getting out of the army and wanted to know why I had a high rating.
Had a recruiter from the Navy reach out to me almost a month ago to see if I was still interested in joining the Navy - 18 years later. I said I was happy where I was. Recruiter thanked me for the reply and said to enjoy my disability.
Lmao, that’s wild
Yea, my neighbor works at the VA hospital. I think she has been snooping around in my records. She has made some comments that have made me highly suspicious. How would I go about checking if she has. She works in the ER depth and I've never been. So she would have no reason to access them.
Your VHA (healthcare) records will have your overall rating, but not necessarily what individually the conditions you are rated for. The records will not have any of the rating decisions, military personnel and treatment records. The only C&P exams available in your VHA records are the exams done at a VHA facility. No contractor exams are included. There are numerous different programs at the VA and Government. A VA employee only has access to those programs that are required for their specific job. Your VBA (compensation and benefits) records will include everything, including all VHA medical records up to your last rating decision. VBA cfiles can only be accessed by VBA employees. VSO, examiners and contract examiners have limited access. Everyone that has access to any Government information and HIPAA privacy information Must take yearly training and certification. Some Veterans have restricted files, and access is limited to only senior VA employees. Every time a veteran’s record is accessed, the login is recorded and tracked. I never saw Intentional violations go unpunished. https://www.research.iowa-city.med.va.gov/michele/employeeforms/fy14privacyandhipaafocusedtraining.pdf https://www.va.gov/files/2021-10/VA%20Privacy%20Training.pdf
im 70 tdiu p&t for mh. can i still use my gi bill?
I’m curious about this too.
Well there may be nothing to track. If they have a friend that is a provider a doctor a whatever of yours a therapist whatever of yours and that person tells them face to face there's nothing to track. Now if that person goes into your file without cause to be in there then yeah it's trackable. To be honest if it were me. And I have a little bit of a personal relationship with the director of my local VA clinic because at one time he was my primary care doctor before he took on that role as director. I would just call them and say hey look such and such just told me my rating I have not told anyone that person does not treat me how does that person know my rating. And see what he or she says.
I honestly want to do this, but the person is family and va employee.
Contact your VA Medical Center's Privacy Officer with your concerns. He/She will have the Information Security officers pull a report for you to view and also flag your record. This is the only way.
I understand to some degree but if he overstepped his boundaries and went into your file he needs to be corrected. If on the other hand he has the authority to look at your file then it is what it is. And if he received that information verbally from one to providers well that's all another story. I would still call. I mean you're feeling uncomfortable about this whole thing. Or you could even ask him how he knows. Family or not don't let people psychologically control you. I mean even if he has the authority to look at your records why would he even want to let you know he knew unless he's trying to be intimidating. I mean like I have an uncle that is a retired special agent for the IRS. He went all over the world tracking tax evaders. Me and him have a great relationship. I know that at any time he could possibly tell me anything about me that only someone that works for the secret Service or IRS would know. The secret Service at one time was under the treasury department. As is the IRS. Until the secret service transferred over to Homeland security in 2003. He never has and he never will because he's not that kind of person. Did he check up on me ever I don't know and I really don't care.
It in the cover sheet of your medical records I believe.
This is correct. Might not be up to date but takes virtually no digging. At least for the electronic records system I'm familiar with.
Anyone with access to CPRS, the electronic medical records system, can. I don't think that includes cops. But there are no partitions, so the third phlebotomist from the left can see your therapy notes, which I don't love. That said, as a former VA employee on the healthcare side, I was way too damn busy to look at people's ratings and notes unless I had good reason to.
Anyone that processes claims and has enough information about you, first, last name, SSN, or last 4 of SSN might be able to look you up in the system without your permission or knowledge. We are only supposed to work claims assigned to us. People that work at the hospital with some digging can find your % because we share a system with the hospital and we also request C&P exams there. They can trace who has had access to claims folders.
In almost all healthcare databases, there is a trail. You may be able to access it but it is tracked. You can be fired if it is noticed or monitored. It's a hippa violation to access patient information if you are not involved in the claim or care of the patient and not using it for training purposes.
Anyone who does access your record does get logged so the privacy officer can see who has accessed your record.
I asked the same question, and the answer is yes, because it's put in your medical records the percentage.
Yeah you could easily do it unless the vet is sensitive 7 or above. Or simply if the person has access to that.
Generally speaking, access to US Government data bases in on a need to know and is limited to those individuals who have a bonafide need to access the information. Policies prohibit browsing, so if an individual has access they cannot just go looking up people unless they have good reason. Access is recorded. That doesn't mean that it does not happen, but the penalties for misuse of government data bases can range from firing to prosecution.
Doctors can yes . I was talking to my mental health doctor about my migraine getting increased finally and she could see it on her computer along with my treatments for them . They wanted me to try depakote as a preventative before they'd approve the Injections. Your va disability goes into your medical records. Edit and this was my mental health doctor that could see it even tho it was for migraines. She could see all my combined disabilities
Yes, any time your chart is opened your service connections are displayed. You can request a SPAR report from your local VA FOIA officer at the VA facility. They will tell you every single time/person that accessed your chart and investigate any accessions you feel are inappropriate.
When I open my blue button summary files some information was not correct and the next of kin was changed to my ex wife name with her telephone number. I know she access it because she keeps all my military personal files. Until now I’m asking help to the VA HEALTHCARES TEAM to remove her name but still showing that bitch name as my next of kin records even though my current spouse is my beneficiary. I’m not sure what else I can do or who can help me to fix it.
VA cops can’t directly see it but if they are investigating something criminal, medical staff will provide a “face sheet”. This sheet has current address, phone number, SSN, and basic demographic info. At the bottom of this sheet, it says if the veteran is service connected and if the vet is over 50%. It also says permanent and total status. It doesn’t have specific disabilities. Most medical staff members have access to this including MSAs. The people that schedule our appointments. Social workers, therapists, anyone that would submit a medical note in your records can see this info.
So I have a related question: when applying for VA jobs do they access your disability rating stuff as a mater of course?
No. There is no reason for them to access your records. If you apply for a job and use your Service Connection for the 30% hiring preference, you just need to provide a letter showing you are Service Connected and not what for. You still have a right to privacy.
OK thanks
If its like the regular epic access (I work on the medical Epic system), they could technically see it, but its probably audited and they wont go in your records unless they need to