Where I work, it's now a condition of employment that during our five year background checks, we sign a medical release form. By HIPAA, that release has to be for a specific purpose, and in our case it authorizes the keeper of any such records to disclose mental health or drug abuse issues. (We also have pre-employment drug screening, and random drug tests, but I've never been randomly tested in over 15 years.)
I haven't had any mental health issues, nor used illegal drugs. The only time I've been to the doctor in over 10 years was a work-related injury, so there's nothing for them to even look for.
And besides, they might have permission to look, but they don't know
where to look.
