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•Member Privacy Information

Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice is to all Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) members including Medicaid, Hoosier Healthwise, Medicaid Select, and members residing in institutions operated by the Indiana Department of Health and the division of Mental Health and Addictions who have received medical services outside of those institutions. This notice is for your information only. You do not need to take any action as a result of this notice.

To view the Notice of Privacy Practices in English, click here.

Para ver el Aviso de prácticas de privacidad en español, haga clic aquí.

Notice of Privacy Practices

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.

IHCP will not share your health information without your written permission except as described in this notice, or when required or permitted by law. If you give us your written permission to share your information with others you identify, you may change your mind at any time by telling us in writing. The IHCP will comply with this notice. The IHCP reserves the right to change its privacy practices and make the new privacy practices effective for all protected health information we maintain. If the terms of this notice change we will notify you at the address you have supplied.

Our Responsibilities and Commitment to You

We understand that your health information is personal. We take our responsibility to keep your personal health information private very seriously. We are required by law to protect your health information, to tell you about your rights regarding your health information, and to give you this notice explaining our responsibilities and the ways your health information will be used and shared by the IHCP.

Use and Disclosure of Your Health Information

We do not create health records. We receive your health information to help us make decisions about whether you qualify for certain programs or services, to pay for services provided to you by your health care provider, for health care operations, and to evaluate the quality of services you receive. The following are some common examples of how we may use your personal health information without getting your specific written permission:

Doctors, hospitals, and other health care practitioners that provide services to you submit your health information to us in the form of a claim for payment. They may also give us your health information to obtain prior authorization for a service or to find out if a service is covered. These requests include information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and procedures you have received, or that you might receive in the future. We use this information to approve and pay for the services that we cover. We may also share your information with other programs that may pay for your health care, such as Medicare or private insurance companies in order to get payments.

•We may use your health information to review the care and outcome of your treatment and to compare your outcomes with the outcomes of other people who received the same or similar treatment. We use this information to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care services.

• We may share your health information with our employees, as well as with contracted companies and persons, so they can perform the jobs we ask them to do, such as approving services for you or reviewing payments made to health care practitioners. To protect your health information we require everyone who works for us or has a contract with us to follow rules protecting your information.

• We may use or share your health information to tell you or your provider about possible treatment options, alternative treatments, and for other health-related benefits.

• We may share your health information with other government agencies that may provide public benefits or services to you. We may also share your information with other government agencies as permitted by law, including the federal government, to show how the IHCP is working and to improve its programs.

Your Health Information Rights

•You have the right to request that we restrict our use and release of your health information for payment, treatment or health care operations, or with family, friends, and others you identify. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will abide by our agreement, except in a medical emergency or as required or authorized by law. You should submit your request in writing to the IHCP Privacy Office.

• You have the right to request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agree to receive it electronically by e-mail.

• You have the right to a list of instances in which we released your personal health information for purposes other than for treatment, payment, and health care operations. This list will not include information previously requested by you or anyone authorized by you to receive your health information, and for certain other activities. The list is limited to the last six years and must be requested in writing to the IHCP Privacy Office.

• You have the right to request that we contact you about your personal health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can request that we only contact you at work or by e-mail. We will review and accommodate only reasonable requests. To make a special contact request you must submit your request in writing to the IHCP Privacy Office.

•You have the right to see and get a copy of your health information with certain exceptions. We are permitted to charge a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or for other supplies needed to meet your request. Your request must be submitted in writing to the IHCP Privacy Office. If your request is denied for some reason, you can file an appeal with the IHCP Privacy Office. A person who did not participate in the decision to deny your request will review your appeal.

• You have the right to ask that we change your health information if you feel it is incorrect or incomplete. Your request should be submitted in writing to the IHCP Privacy Office. We may deny your request for only certain reasons, such as we did not create the information or we believe the information is correct. If we deny your request, we will provide you a written explanation.

Contact Information or Filing a Complaint

If you have questions, want additional information, or want to make a request you can contact the IHCP Privacy Office at the address or phone number below. All requests about your health information must be submitted in writing.

If you have a complaint about our health information practices or believe that we have violated your privacy rights, please submit the complaint to the IHCP Privacy Office at the following address.

All complaints must be submitted in writing

IHCP Privacy Office

P.O. Box 7260

Indianapolis, IN 46207-7260

(317) 713-9627 or 1-800-457-4584

You can also file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the following address:

Office of Civil Rights, Chicago

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 240

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Phone: (312) 886-2359; FAX: (312) 886-1807

OCRComplaint@hhs.gov