Confidentiality is our Priority!
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Confidentiality is our Priority
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) remains committed to maintaining the confidentiality of our members’ protected health information (PHI). PHI of any kind, including information about a member’s medical care or health status, is protected by BCBSGa confidentiality policies and procedures.
Data shared with employer groups cannot be implicitly or explicitly member-identifiable, unless specific member authorization has been obtained. These policies address confidentiality in many areas of our business, including:
 | The Plan’s routine uses and disclosures of PHI |
| Use of authorizations |
| Access to PHI |
| Internal protection of oral, written and electronic PHI across the Plan |
| Protection of information disclosed to Plan sponsors for employees |
| The member’s right to authorize or deny the release of PHI beyond treatment, payment or health care operations |
| The annual distribution of the Plan’s Notice of Privacy Practices |
| Use of the Plan’s Web site as a means to communicate its confidentiality practices |
| Right to designate a personal representative to act on your behalf when contacting the Plan to exercise your privacy rights on your behalf |
| Access and release of medical records |
| Protection of privacy in all settings |
| Use of measurement data |
| Building security |
| Electronic claims handling |
| Employee responsibility |
| Corporate integrity |
All confidential PHI is treated with care and protected against unauthorized disclosure. BCBSGa preserves the confidentiality of our members’ personal and medical information in accordance with current statutory, regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Plan Practices for Maintaining Privacy and Data Security Require that:
| All associates sign a statement ensuring that any information learned about a member will be held in confidence. These forms are required to be signed upon employment and annually thereafter. |
| Access to information is controlled and limited to personnel who have an appropriate and approved need. |
| Confidential information obtained for the purpose of ensuring, measuring and improving quality is housed in a specific department within the organization, with limited access to this information. |
| Data shared with employer groups is not member-identifiable, unless members provide consent. |
| All contracted providers, vendors and/or delegated entities agree to the Plan’s confidentiality policies and procedures by submitting a written certification to BCBSGa services, which contains strict confidentiality clauses. |
| Except when such release is required by law, members may consent to, or refuse, the release of medical or other identifiable information by BCBSGa. |
| Except as permitted by law, member information is not released unless the member, or their authorized representative, provides either routine or special consent. |
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