How Medicaid Uses and Discloses Protected Health Information

Medicaid uses your health information to pay for your health services and to operate the Medicaid program. Medicaid may also use your health information to tell you about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services.

The following are some examples of how we may use your health information:

• Your doctor may send us a claim to pay. The claim includes information that identifies you and the type of care you received.
• Medicaid may share your information with a company that reviews hospital records to check on the quality of care that you received.
• Medicaid may send appointment reminders for Child Health Check-Up services.

Medicaid may also use and disclose your health information as permitted by law, potentially including disclosures:

• To other government agencies that provide public benefits for determining eligibility and compliance
• For public health, such as disaster relief; disease control; or to report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• For health oversight, such as inspections, investigations, and audits
• To avert a serious threat to health or safety of a person or the public
• To law enforcement; or in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process
• To a law enforcement officer or a correctional institution that has you in custody
• To the federal government for national security, protective services, military, or veterans activities
• To conduct research to benefit the Medicaid program
• For workers' compensation or other similar programs
• To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors; and for organ donations
• To your family or other persons who are involved in your medical care. (You have the right to object to disclosing this information.)
• As otherwise required by law

Other uses or disclosures of your protected health information require your written authorization. If you give us your authorization, you may cancel it by writing to our Privacy Officer at the address listed below. If you cannot give your authorization due to an emergency, Medicaid may release your health information if it is in your best interest.

Your Health Information Rights

You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information:

• To see or obtain a copy of your health information that is maintained by Medicaid. We may not be able to provide health information that includes psychotherapy notes, is part of a legal case, or is otherwise excluded from disclosure by law. We may charge a copying fee.
• To request that Medicaid amend health information it maintains that is wrong or incomplete.
• To request a list of where Medicaid has sent your health information since April 14, 2003. The list may not include disclosures authorized by you; disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations; or other disclosures permitted by law.
• To request that Medicaid contact you at a different address or phone number, if contacting you about your health information at your present location would endanger you.
• To request that Medicaid limit the use and disclosure of your health information. Medicaid is not required to agree to your request.
• To request another paper copy of this notice.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, wish to make a request regarding your health information, or would like a paper copy of this notice, please contact your local Medicaid office at the telephone number listed in the link below. We may ask you to make the request in writing.

Filing a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Medicaid and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at the addresses below. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Privacy Officer
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop 5
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
(850) 488-3849

Secretary of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington D.C.
20201

Future Changes to the Notice of Privacy Practices

Medicaid reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new notice provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain. If Medicaid makes a material revision to this notice, Medicaid will send a revised copy of the notice to beneficiary households within sixty (60) days of the revision.

Who Receives the Notice of Privacy Practices

Medicaid sends this notice to every beneficiary household. The notice applies to all Medicaid beneficiaries.