Comments on: Special needs are Universal: Traveling with two disabled children – how to best prepare for Universal Orlando?

By: Realityblah

Realityblah — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 20:00:59 +0000

iamdollie Realityblah It’s the excuse, but they have to legal binding to follow or place in citing HIPAA.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/index.html
The HIPAA Rules apply to covered entities and business associates.
Individuals, organizations, and agencies that meet the definition of a covered entity
under HIPAA must comply with the Rules’ requirements to protect the
privacy and security of health information and must provide individuals
with certain rights with respect to their health information. If a
covered entity engages a business associate to help it carry out
its health care activities and functions, the covered entity must have a
written business associate contract or other arrangement with the
business associate that establishes specifically what the business
associate has been engaged to do and requires the business associate to
comply with the Rules’ requirements to protect the privacy and security
of protected health information. In addition to these contractual
obligations, business associates are directly liable for compliance with
certain provisions of the HIPAA Rules.
If an entity does not meet the definition of a covered entity or
business associate, it does not have to comply with the HIPAA Rules.
See definitions of “business associate” and “covered entity” at 45 CFR
160.103.

Covered entities are health care providers, plans, and healthcare information clearinghouses. HIPAA rules do not apply to theme parks and it should not be invoked when parents attempt to share information when asking for accommodation.

By: iamdollie

iamdollie — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:00:06 +0000

Realityblah Thank you for your comment. However, this is the excuse that both Universal and Disney have given me and others when approached with a doctor’s note. I know you have provided the above quote, but where exactly did you find it, stating the regulation’s numerical code? Thanks for your assistance because this could be the key to receiving better accommodations when requested!
It also could be they are not required to read the information presented but I have not been able to find that regulation. Could you possibly help with this research? We all would appreciate it. I’m not an attorney or a medical professional, just a parent who would love to find the reason why the parks are not accepting our documentation, especially those who only have mobility reasons for needing assistance but are told it’s not available for them.

By: Realityblah

Realityblah — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:00:00 +0000

It is incorrect to say that HIPPA forbids the staff from reading your doctor’s note. A little about HIPPA…
“The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect
individuals’ medical records and other personal health information and
applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health
care providers that conduct certain health care transactions
electronically. The Rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the
privacy of personal health information, and sets limits and conditions
on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without
patient authorization. The Rule also gives patients rights over their
health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of
their health records, and to request corrections.”
You have the right and ability to release your own information to anyone you wish – you as a patient or a legal guardian are authorizing the release, both when you ask the doctor to draft the letter and again when you share it with anyone. It’s gives patients rights over their information, not theme parks to ignore documentation presented to them. You might want to consider correcting the text of this article.

By: Ed Connolly

Ed Connolly — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:10:49 +0000

hey guys This Universal’ they care a lot about people try help you out they rock i know one my Best friends work for them and he try get me in some line some time when he there

By: Anne Wilkinson Usher

Anne Wilkinson Usher — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:59:58 +0000

Thank you, this is all so helpful having all the information in one place. we went in October last year and Universal could not be more helpful. all the cast were amazing and it seriously helped us relax a bit. We were given times to return to most of the rides, but all the cast were always so helpful and accommodating.