Spidey Sense tingling a little
 

Was approached by a managed care company regarding getting a contract to be a provider for them. Filled in the application and sent it back. They respond with a release for them to do a background check and a request for proof that I have done health information privacy training in the last year, and if I can't provide that, I do the confidentiality training now, and again each 12 months.

Seems a bit fishy to me, so I call them, and the guy gives me some jazz about the feds require this. I did not go through this to be a Medicare provider, or a Tricare provider, or to get a license to practice or get on hospital staff. The whole thing gives me a bad vibe, but I was thinking I would run this by y'all and see what you thought.

HIPA is a big deal right? It wouldn't surprise me for some folks to be a little over the top. But don't take my word for it since I have nothing to do with the medical industry.

I do work in the financial industry and we have to take all sorts of silly training every year. I have to take training on how to spot money laundering and that sort of thing based on deposit and business patterns. I work for a bank, but I don't remotely work in a bank. If someone tries to hand me >$10k, there's probably a lot bigger problems.

I can see the need for the privacy training but what kind of background check? A quick NICS check?

My wife works in that field I will try to ask her this evening, she is always talking about new rules and I don't pay attention. but then it might not be something she can discuss

The first sentence provides all the "Danger Will Robinson" I need to know.

HIPPA is a big deal, but nobody asks doctors to do recurrent training on it, nobody. You sign an agreement that you will treat protected information the way you are supposed to treat it. If I create a problem by being too cavalier, it is my problem, not their's

Have not had to do that with any HMO/PPO/MPN, but it doesn't sound particularly fishy, either.

I have had to sign HIPPA agreements with every new contract. I had to sign again with my current employer and think there could be a yearly refresher course and a new HIPPA agreement coming up.
Doesn't seem too far-fetched to have it requested. Unusual for docs probably but not for the worker bee.

If it were me I would: first ask them "why did you approach ME" and second tell them you'll come over for a short visit. If their address is a PO box at the UPS store then......

Is there going to be any money out of your pocket to sign with them or do the yearly training? That would definitely be a red flag for me.

Is there any way you can do some kind of background check on this company ?