Home » HIPAA Statement

HIPAA Statement

HIPAA Statement

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

,  

PRIVACY STATEMENT

Effective: April 14, 2003

At your privacy is important to us. We will do all we can to protect your health records. By law, we must protect your health records and send you this notice.

This notice tells you how we use your health records. It describes when we can share your records with others. It explains your rights about the use of your health records. It also tells you how to use those rights and who can see your health records. This notice does not apply to information that does not identify you.

When we talk about your health records in this notice, it includes any information about all of your health services while you are a member of . This includes providing health care to you. It also includes payment for your health care while you are our member.

Please note: You will also receive a Privacy Notice from the State of outlining their rules for your health records. Other health plans and health care providers may have other rules when using or sharing your health records. We ask that you get a copy of their Privacy Notices and read them carefully.

How We Use or Share Your Health Records

Here are ways we may use or share your health records:

• To help pay your medical bills given to us by health care providers.
• To help your health care providers give you the proper care. For example, if you are in the hospital, we may give them your records sent to us by your doctor.
• To help manage your health care. For example, we might talk to your doctor to suggest a disease or wellness program that could help improve your health.
• To help resolve any administrative appeals or grievances filed by you or a health care provider with or the State of .
• To assist others who help us provide your health services. We will not share your records with these outside groups unless they agree to protect your records.
• For public health or disaster relief efforts.
• To remind you if you have a doctor's visit coming up.
• To give you information about other health care treatments and programs, such as information on how to stop smoking or lose weight.
• To design special health programs and services.

State and federal laws may call for us to give your health records to others for the following reasons:

• To state and federal agencies that control us, such as the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
• For public health actions. For example, the Food and Drug Administration may need to check or track medicines and medical device problems.
• To public health groups if we believe there is a serious public health or safety threat.
• To a health agency for certain activities, such as audits, inspections, licensure and disciplinary actions.
• To a court or administrative agency.
• To law enforcement. For example, we may give your records to a law enforcement officer to identify or find someone who is a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person.
• To a government person about child abuse, neglect or violence in your home.
• To a coroner or medical examiner to identify a dead person or help find a cause of death or to a funeral director to help them carry out their duties.
• For organ transplant purposes.
• For special government roles, such as military and veteran activities, national security and intelligence activities, and to help protect the President and others.
• Regarding job-related injuries due to your state's worker compensation laws.

If one of the above reasons does not apply, we must get your written approval to use or share your health records with others. If you change your mind, you may stop your written approval at any time.

If sharing your health information is not allowed by or limited by a state law, we will obey the law that better protects your health information.