Confidentiality of Personal Health Information

The Ohio State University and The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC) are committed to maintaining the privacy of the personal health information of faculty and staff. Ohio State does not, and will not, use any genetic or other health information about you in making employment decisions or in determining health plan eligibility. Your personal health information will only be accessible to authorized members of your health care team and will not be available to others outside of the health care setting without prior authorization from you.

Your Plan for Health includes several features that rely upon your personal health information in order to help you and your health care team better manage your health and well-being. For example:

• You will be invited to complete a Personal Health Assessment (PHA). The PHA is an online survey that will help you assess your health risks.
• Your Plan for Health also encourages the use of an electronic medical record through the OSUMC. This electronic medical record will contain your information from the PHA, as well as information from any lab, inpatient, and eventually outpatient services received at the OSUMC.
• Your Plan for Health introduced health coaching and care coordination programs in July 2006 to OSU Faculty and Staff Health Plan members. These programs are meant to assist you in working with your physician as part of your care team and managing any related conditions that are identified.

The Office of Human Resources does not have access to any individual data from the PHA, electronic medical records, or health care claims. Your personal data also will not be accessible to any private company, other public entities, or outside agencies that are not under contract to the university for purposes of treatment, payment, or health care operations.

The Ohio State University Faculty and Staff Health Plans and The Ohio State University Medical Center are subject to federal privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA protects the privacy and security of your personal health information by specifying that personal health information can be only used and disclosed for purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations. The law imposes criminal and civil penalties on violations of these regulations.