The privacy rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) go into effect this month. The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan has mailed its Notice of Privacy Practices to all participants and their families. (Seafarers who did not receive this notice are asked to contact the Plan office, or they may obtain a copy on this web site beginning April 14, in the "Member Benefits and Resources" section.)This legal notice includes the Plan's privacy policies and procedures. The notice informs participants how the Plan will use and disclose private medical information. Plan professionals spent many months getting ready to implement the directives of this law and believe that the Plan will be in full compliance. All Plan staff have received formal instruction on the law and are ready to assist Seafarers with any questions or concerns pertaining to the new regulations.
Under HIPAA, except for treatment, payment or plan operations purposes, the Plan cannot release any "Protected Health Information" concerning any individual to any other person. Under the law, Protected Health Information includes Plan eligibility questions and claim status questions.
Therefore, after April 14, 2003, a participant will have to submit a written authorization if he or she wishes the Plan to release any claims information to another person. The Plan will have authorization forms available upon request, and they will be available at the port offices.
In the event a participant wants a spouse or other close relative to have continuing access to health information, that participant may wish to executive a limited Power of Attorney. This legal document will entitle another person (spouse, parent, child) to act on your behalf and submit claims to the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan.
In addition, that individual would be entitled to have unrestricted access to your claim information including the status of your medical claims. Seafarers may want to consider whether they want to execute this instrument before shipping out. This may make it easier for someone to act on your behalf while you are away. The Plan has forms available in the event that you want to execute a limited medical Power of Attorney.
An authorization is more limiting than a Power of Attorney and is generally used for a specific purpose. For example, an authorization can be used to find out the status of one particular claim. A Power of Attorney grants greater access, and the named individual can act in your place with regard to any matter concerning your medical claims.
While the Plan will maintain its membership services toll-free number, the Plan also is taking precautions to verify the identity of a caller. This will help ensure that private health information is not given to the wrong individual. The next time you call, you will be asked the following information to verify your identity: name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. Remember, however, the Plan can only release claims information to your spouse if it either has a signed authorization or a Power of Attorney on file in the Plan's office.
The Plan believes that the implementation of the new privacy rules will be smooth and will not cause any delay in claims processing or payment. Moreover, complying with the rules will not interfere with the Plan's mission of providing benefits to you and your family.
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