COLLEGE OF THE SISKIYOUS
PERSONNEL SERVICES
TO: Eligible Employees and Retirees
FROM: Nancy Miller, Director - Human Resources
SUBJECT: HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
(HIPAA)
ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION RULES - PRIVACY STANDARDS
As a result of HIPAA, the District must comply with various components
of the Act that will take effect over the next several years.
The first component is the Standards for Privacy of Individually
Identifiable Health Information (the "Privacy Standard"),
which becomes effective April 14, 2003 for group health plans.
The "Privacy Standards" protect each individual's identifiable
health information from being used or disclosed by health care
providers, plans and clearinghouses (called "Covered Entities"
or in our case the District Benefit Plan) without the individual's
express consent or authorization. This is called "Protected
Health Information" or "PHI". PHI is health information
created or received by a Covered Entity or employer that relates
to a person's physical or mental health care.
Beginning April 14, 2003 in order to comply with the "Privacy
Standard" of HIPAA, if a covered employee needs assistance
from District staff (i.e., personnel office staff) in resolving
a claim issue, the employee must complete the "College of
the Siskiyous Health Plan Authorization Request to Use or Disclose
Protected Health Information" form. The form must be completed
prior to staff being able to assist in resolving the claim. If
an employee needs to resolve a claim for their spouse, the spouse
must complete the "Designation of Authorized Representative"
form and the employee must complete the "Authorization Request
to Use of Disclose PHI" form.
As has always been the case, covered employees can resolve their
own claim issues by calling Keenan's Customer Service number at
1-800-653-3626.
Forms are available in the following places:
