Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund Notice of Privacy Practices

As part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F) is required to outline the procedures and practices it follows for handling and exchanging the protected health information of all health care program participants. Additionally, each insurance carrier and provider is required to send similar notifications to all participants, which describe each company’s privacy practices, which can vary to a certain extent. HIPAA was established to govern the way in which a health plan sponsor communicates, uses and secures its participants’ protected health information.  

This notice describes the privacy practices of OP&F. The notice applies to medical information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition and related health care services. OP&F is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with this notice, which explains how OP&F will use and disclose protected health information. OP&F is also required to abide by the terms of this notice.  

How we will use and disclose your health information:  

For payment

OP&F may use and disclose your health information so that your health care claims and other benefits can be paid and to determine whether you are eligible for benefits or coverage or if you are covered. As part of this, OP&F may disclose your health information to a family member or friend consistent with OP&F’s governing HIPAA Policies and Procedures.  

For health care operations

OP&F may use and disclose your health information for our health care operations. For example, OP&F may use your health information, including claims, to renew a contract for health insurance with an insurance company.  

As required by law

OP&F will use and disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state or local law.  

Judicial and administrative proceedings

If you are involved in a legal proceeding, OP&F may disclose your health information in response to a request from a court or other administrative body. OP&F may also disclose your health information in response to a subpoena or discovery request if OP&F believes there has been reasonable effort to tell you about the request or  there is not an order protecting the information requested.  

Business Associates

Certain aspects of the Plan’s operations are performed by unrelated parties with whom the Plan has service arrangements. For example, the Plan is assisted in its operations by third-party administrators. These persons who assist the Plan are called business associates. At times, the Plan may disclose PHI to its business associates so they can provide services to the Plan. The Plan will require that any business associate who receives PHI safeguard the privacy of that information.  

Other uses and disclosures of your protected health information

OP&F will not use  or disclose your health information in other ways without your written authorization.

 

Your rights regarding your protected health information  

Right to request restrictions

You have the right to ask that OP&F limit the uses and disclosures of your health information. You also have the right to request that OP&F not disclose your health information to your friends and family who are involved in your health care or payment for your health care. OP&F is not required to agree with your request for restrictions.  

Communications

You have the right to request that OP&F communicate with you about your personal health matters confidentially, in a particular way or at a particular location.  

Right to inspect and copy

You have the right to inspect and copy your health information.  

Right to amend

You have the right to request that OP&F amend health information that OP&F has created about you if it is incorrect or incomplete.  

Right to an accounting of disclosures

You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information that OP&F has made.  

Right to a paper copy of this notice

You may obtain a copy of this notice on OP&F’s website, www.op-f.org.  

To exercise any of these rights, you will need to obtain the appropriate form and submit your request in writing to the OP&F Privacy Officer.  

Changes to this notice

OP&F reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make the new provisions effective for all of your health information that we maintain. OP&F will mail a copy of any revised notice to you.  

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint in writing with the OP&F Privacy Officer or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against or penalized for filing the complaint. To file a complaint, contact OP&F for the  complaint form.

Contact

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the OP&F Privacy Officer at 800-860-9599.