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Physical Health of California

Sharing your information


The Interoperability and Patient Access rule (CMS-9115-F) was passed in 2020 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The rule makes it easier for you to access and share your health data. For example, using your smart phone app to find out about claims, medications and more. This shared data is found with certain insurance plans.
Apps can get information starting from 2016. The year apps can start collecting health data is based on when you enrolled in your current plan. Why share data between you, health care providers and the apps? It helps everyone work together to improve patient care. This may help reduce your health care costs, too.

Member Education


Beginning in 2024, you can ask your former health plan to send your health information to your current health plan. You can take all your information with you as you move from plan to plan. Having your health information in one place will improve decision-making, care, and health outcomes.

Privacy Protections


We will not release your health information to health plans without your permission. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal privacy law that protects health information. It limits how your health information is accessed, stored, and shared. HIPAA protects health information exchanged between health plans.

Third-Party App Guide


Protect your health information. This is information about you and your health. Your privacy is important. Third-party apps may collect your health information. Third-party means the app is not ours. The app is not working for us. Make sure you understand your apps. Read their privacy policies. Choose apps with strong privacy and security.

You should know:
  • What health information the app will collect
  • What other information the app will collect
  • If your identity will be stored
  • If and how the app will use your information
  • If and how the app will share your information
  • Why and with whom the app will share your information.
  • If the app will sell your information
  • If and how the app will let you know about changes to its policies
  • If and how you can limit the app’s use of your information
  • If and how the app protects your information
  • How using this app could affect others, such as your family
  • If and how you can see your information and correct any mistakes
  • How to send complaints to the app
  • How to delete your account or information
  • If and how you can stop the app from seeing or using your information
  • If and how the app will let you know if there is a security breach

Sensitive Health Information

You must first allow us to send health plans sensitive health information about:
  • Substance use disorder
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Psychotherapy
  • Reproductive health
  • Communicable disease
  • Other sensitive health information
We will not release this information to apps without your permission.

Privacy Protections

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal privacy law that protects health information. It limits how information is stored and shared.
  • It protects information in apps that are from health plans or health care providers.
  • It does not protect information in apps that are not from health plans or health care providers.
  • All apps are subject to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act. It protects against unfair or deceptive acts. An example is if an app shares your information after saying it won’t.

Complaints

If you believe an app has improperly used your information:

Manage access for Third-Party apps that share my health data

  • View all apps sharing patient data
  • Upgrade access token expiration date
  • Revoke an apps access
Manage my data