Florida Medicaid and MediKids 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.
[Printable Version in English, Spanish, and Creole]
A county-by-county directory with contact information for local area
Consumer Relations Representatives
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The Agency for Health Care Administration’s Medicaid program is required by law to maintain the
privacy of your protected health information. We must provide you with notice of its legal duties and
privacy practices with respect to your health information. We must also follow the terms of this notice,
which becomes effective on July 1, 2007.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE |
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How AHCA Uses and Safeguards your Health Information
We use your health information to pay for your health services and to operate the Medicaid program.
We 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.
- We may share your information with a company that reviews hospital records to check on the quality of care that you received.
- We may send appointment reminders for Child Health Check-Up services.
AHCA may also use and disclose your health information as permitted by law, such as:
- To entities outside the agency only if the information is used to verify income, eligibility and the amount of public assistance payment.
- In responding to public emergencies, access to your health information may be granted to persons or agency representatives who are subject to standards of confidentiality comparable to those of AHCA. Such other agencies may include the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- To law enforcement, correctional facilities, medical examiners, funeral directors, and organ donor program personnel where disclosure would determine eligibility for benefits, amount of medical assistance payment or otherwise assists the agency in the administration of the Medicaid program.
- To the confidential Florida abuse hotline in order to report abuse, neglect and/or domestic violence as per criteria and conditions imposed on the agency by law.
- For health oversight activities and/or administration of the Medicaid program, such as inspections, investigations and audits.
- To conduct research to benefit the Medicaid program.
- As otherwise required by law.
Other uses or disclosures of your protected health information require your or your personal
representative’s written authorization. At any time, you may revoke such authorization in writing. If
you cannot give your authorization due to an emergency, we 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 AHCA. 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 we amend health information we maintain that you believe is incorrect or
incomplete.
- To request a list of where we have 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 we 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 we limit the use and disclosure of your health information. We are not required to
agree to your request.
- To request another paper copy of this notice.
Contact Information
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If you have any questions, wish to make a request regarding your health information, or would like another paper copy of this notice, please contact the AHCA Medicaid office in your area at the telephone number listed below. We may ask you to make the request in writing.
Area 1 Pensacola: (850) 595-5700 Area 4 Jacksonville: (904) 353-2100 Area 8 Ft. Myers: (239) 338-2620
Area 2A Panama City: (850) 872-7690 Area 5 St. Pete: (727) 552-1191 Area 9 West Palm Beach: (561) 616-5255
Area 2B Tallahassee: (850) 921-8474 Area 6 Tampa: (813) 871-7600 Area 10 Ft. Lauderdale: (954) 202-3200
Area 3A Gainesville: (386) 418-5350 Area 7 Orlando: (407) 317-7851 Area 11 Miami: (305) 499-2000
Area 3B Ocala: (352) 732-1349
Filing a HIPAA Complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated by AHCA or one of its employees, you may file
a complaint with AHCA and/or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at the
addresses below. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint. |
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Privacy Officer
Agency for Health Care Administration
2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #5
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
850-488-3849
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Secretary
Department
of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington D.C. 20201
800-368-1019
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Future Changes to the Notice of Privacy Practices
AHCA 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 we make a material revision to this notice, we
will send a revised copy of the notice to recipient households within sixty (60) days of the revision.
Who Receives the Notice of Privacy Practices
We send this notice to every recipient household. This notice applies to all Medicaid recipients.
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