Employer wants private medical information from routine Dr visit

I respectfully disagree. HIPAA covers all medical records. Now, if they want him to go back & have another DOT physical done, they can have him do that but they cant ask him what his medical conditions are. The only thing they are obligated to know is whether he is fit to perform his job per DOT regs. Period.

As for his recent visit to his physician, they are only obligated to know if he is fit to come back to work. He has a valid medical card.
His medical card was no good if & while he was not medically fit, IF that was the case. lets say he did have a heart transplant. His medical certification was no good during this period because he did not meet the requirements by DOT per his Cardiologist (unfit to perform his duties). Once the Cardiologist replaced the heart, examined him & determined he was fit to work, his DOT medical status was still in effect because nothing changed except his heart & his cardiologist stated his heart was fit. Nothing else changed. His vision, hearing, raising his arms above his head, still has all limbs etc, etc, etc. Nothing changed except his heart & his cardiologist stated he was good to go based on what changed.

In the end, a company can not ask for you medical records period. All they are allowed to have is whether he is fit to return to duty based on DOT rules outlined in the DOT physical regulations.
Again, HIPAA covers ALL medical records.
If his company wants his medical records, they will have to have their attorney file a law suit & ask the court to order them released. There is no where that says a company has a right to your medical records.

Now, having said that, you have to reveal certain medical info for the DOT Physician to get the physical. BUT, that is a physician doing a medical exam. That is far from your company having you medical records.

If his company wants him to retake his DOT physical, they should have to pay for it since he already holds a certified medical card from a DOT medical examiner.