Providers must get appropriate consent to share patient information

Sharing an individual’s health information is an important part of delivering quality health care. Individuals and their health care providers share information with each other to diagnose health issues, make decisions on treatments and coordinate care.

Providers may share many kinds of health information with other providers for the purposes of payment, treatment and health care operations. However, providers must receive consent from patients to share an individual’s health record when it contains certain types of information. This applies even if the record is being shared for payment or treatment purposes.

Federal and state laws require providers to receive consent to share such information as mental health records or information on treatment or referrals for alcohol and substance use disorder. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan participation agreements require providers to comply with all federal and state laws, including data privacy laws.

Providers must ensure they’re securing appropriate consents from patients that permit them to share necessary information with Blue Cross for use in payment and health care operations activities. These include case management and care coordination activities with New Directions, a company that provides behavioral health services for many of our members.