How does the HIPAA release form work at MEPS? Does that give them all access to my records whenever they want without my knowledge?

2019-02-19T19:52:27-05:00

I was wrongly diagnosed with asthma a few years ago and I'm currently working with my doctor to get these records off my files, but it's still currently on my files. Basically, I just had trouble breathing in the spring due to allergies (never any wheezing {only when I was really sick} or coughing/asthma attacks). And with exercise, I've just been out of shape. As soon as I started running consistently, I was perfectly fine. I've taken albuterol and it's never really helped at all.

How does the HIPAA release form work at MEPS? Does that give them all access to my records whenever they want without my knowledge? Or only to doctors I give them information about/listed? Nobody seems to have similar responses.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 8:05 PM

2019-02-19T20:05:54-05:00

Ryan Kollar Any statements that you make or forms that you fill out must be complete and truthful. Provide all requested information with honest answers or it will come back to bite you. You are signing the HIPPA Release Form so that they can access your medical records. One of the Army Values is Integrity.

https://www.army.mil/values/

Army Values

The seven Army Values are the foundation of the Army Profession.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Feb 19 at 2019 9:12 PM

2019-02-19T21:12:21-05:00

The release forms are specific to the purposes of obtaining information used to determine your fitness to serve in the military. It does not give them carte blanche to access your information years from now just because they are feeling nosy. I can't stress enough the importance of your being COMPLETELY truthful on the questionnaire forms. Trust me, they WILL find any omission or falsification. Either one are grounds for immediate disqualification.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 20 at 2019 1:40 PM

2019-02-20T13:40:40-05:00

It limits them specifically to the purpose of the release, nothing more. Good luck.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 9:44 PM

2019-02-20T21:44:42-05:00

I didn’t read any comments but here’s what happens. You sign it but Meps doesn’t look into your history unless you right it down or they find something while doing your physical. When you get to basic and ait, if you have an asthma attack you will be sent to the hospital and they will search your medical history in their medical database and find out you had asthma and you will be discharge on fraudulent enlistment with a medical condition existing prior to service.