Data Privacy - Southwest Health and Human Services

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Ag#009 04 17

DHS 3979 (Effective Date: November 2016)

This notice tells how medical private information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get this information. Please review it carefully.

Why do we ask for this information?

In order to determine whether and how we can help you, we collect information:

To tell you apart from other people with the same or similar name
To decide what you are eligible for
To help you get medical, mental health, financial or social services and decide if you can pay for some services
To decide if you or your family need protective services
To decide about out-of-home care and in-home care for you or your children
To investigate the accuracy of the information in your application.

After we have begun to provide services or support to you, we may collect additional information:

To make reports, do research, do audits, and evaluate our programs
To investigate reports of people who may lie about the help they need
To collect money from other agencies, like insurance companies, if they should pay for your care
To collect money from the state or federal government for help we give you.
When you and your family’s circumstances change and you are required to report the change (see Client Responsibilities and Rights –DHS-4163)

Why do we ask you for your Social Security number?

We need your Social Security number to give you medical assistance, some kinds of financial help, or child support enforcement services (42 CFR 435.910 [2006]; Minn. Stat. 256D.03, subd.3(h); Minn. Stat.256L.04, subd. 1a; 45 CFR 205.52 [2001]; 42 USC 666; 45 CFR 303.30 [2001]). We also need your Social Security Number to verify identity and prevent duplication of state and federal benefits. Additionally, your Social Security Number is used to conduct computer data matches with collaborative, nonprofit and private agencies to verify income, resources, or other information that may affect your eligibility and/or benefits.

You do not have to give us the SSN:

For persons in your home who are not applying for coverage
If you have religious objections
If you are not a U.S. citizen and are applying for Emergency Medical Assistance only
If you are from another country, in the U.S. on a temporary basis and do not have permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to live in the U.S. permanently
If you are living in the U.S. without the knowledge or approval of the USCIS.

Do you have to answer the questions we ask?

You do not have to give us your personal information. Without the information, we may not be able to help you. If you give us wrong information on purpose, you can be investigated and charged with fraud.

With whom may we share information?

We will only share information about you as needed and as allowed or required by law. We may share your information with the following agencies or persons who need the information to do their jobs:

Employees or volunteers with other state, county, local, federal, collaborative, nonprofit and private agencies
Researchers, auditors, investigators, and others who do quality of care reviews and studies or commence prosecutions or legal actions related to managing the human services programs
Court officials, county attorney, attorney general, other law enforcement officials, child support officials, and child protection and fraud investigators
Human services offices, including child support enforcement offices
Governmental agencies in other states administering public benefits programs
Health care providers, including mental health agencies and drug and alcohol treatment facilities
Health care insurers, health care agencies, managed care organizations and others who pay for your care
Guardians, conservators or persons with power of attorney
Coroners and medical investigators if you die and they investigate your death
Credit bureaus, creditors or collection agencies if you do not pay fees you owe to us for services
Anyone else to whom the law says we must or can give the information.

What are your rights regarding the information we have about you?

You and people you have given permission to may see and copy private information we have about you. You may have to pay for the copies.
You may question if the information we have about you is correct. Send your concerns in writing. Tell us why the information is wrong or not complete. Send your own explanation of the information you do not agree with. We will attach your explanation any time information is shared with another agency.
You have the right to ask us in writing to share health information with you in a certain way or in a certain place. For example, you may ask us to send health information to your work address instead of your home address. If we find that your request is reasonable, we will grant it.

You have the right to ask us to limit or restrict the way that we use or disclose your information, but we are not required to agree to this request.
If you do not understand the information, ask your worker to explain it to you. You can ask the Minnesota Department of Human Services for another copy of this notice.

What are our responsibilities?

We must protect the privacy of your medical and other private information according to the terms of this notice.
We may not use your information for reasons other than the reasons listed on this form or share your information with individuals and agencies other than those listed on this form unless you tell us in writing that we can.
We must follow the terms of this notice, but we may change our privacy policy because privacy laws change. We will put changes to our privacy rules on our website.

What privacy rights do children have?

If you are under 18, when parental consent for medical treatment is not required, information will not be shown to parents unless the health care provider believes not sharing the information would risk your health. Parents may see other information about you and let others see this information, unless you have asked that this information not be shared with your parents. You must ask for this in writing and say what information you do not want to share and why. If the agency agrees that sharing the information is not in your best interest, the information will not be shared with your parents. If the agency does not agree, the information may be shared with your parents if they ask for it.

What if you believe your privacy rights have been violated?

If you think that the Minnesota Department of Human Services has violated your privacy rights, you may send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the address below:

Minnesota Department of Human Services
Attn: Privacy Official
PO Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998

We cannot deny you services or treat you badly because you have filed a complaint against us.

This information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by contacting us at 651-296-8517 (voice), toll free at 1-800-657-3659. TDD users can call the Minnesota Relay at 1-800-627-3529 (TDD), 7-1-1 or 1-877-627-3848 (speech to speech relay service).