The regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protect the privacy and security of individuals’ identifiable health information and establish an array of individual rights with respect to health information, including:
- Right to receive notification of UCSF’s privacy practices;
- Right to inspect and obtain a copy of the health information that UCSF maintains about them;
- Right to request an amendment to their medical record;
- Right to an accounting of UCSF’s disclosure(s) of their health information;
- Right to request a restriction on the use or disclosure of their health information;
- Right to request a restriction on the method by which UCSF communicates with them.
UCSF Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics (LPPHC)
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Information regarding Privacy Practices at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland can be found in the UCSF Health Notice of Privacy Practices. To obtain copies or authorize the release of your child's health information, visit Health Information Management and Medical Records
Right to Receive Notice of Privacy Practices
Patients have the right to be notified of UCSF’s privacy practices. To do so, UCSF Health provides each patient with a copy of UCSF Health’s Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) at their first visit at a UCSF hospital or clinic. Additional copies are given to patients upon request. Copies of the Notice are also posted in plain sight throughout UCSF facilities.
- UCSF Health Notice of Privacy Practices: English | Chinese | Russian | Spanish
- UCSF Health Notice of Privacy Practices Acknowledgement of Receipt forms: English | Chinese | Russian | Spanish
Right to Inspect and Obtain PHI
Patients have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of their health information. There are certain exceptions to this right, such as the type of information that can be accessed. To access and/or obtain a copy of your health information please contact the appropriate Medical Records Department of the UCSF hospital or clinic. Visit UCSF Health’s Medical Records website to find instructions on how to request your record.
Right to Request an Amendment to Your Medical Record
Patients who feel that the information in their UCSF medical record is inaccurate have the right to request that UCSF amend their information. This request can be denied for certain reasons. For UCSF Health patients, read Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information, which explains the process to submit an amendment request to UCSF Health.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
Patients have the right to request an accounting of disclosures of their health information during the previous six year period. Certain disclosures – such as those made pursuant to the patient’s authorization and those made for treatment, payment, or operations purposes – are exempted from this accounting. To request an accounting of disclosures from UCSF Health, please read Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information for instructions on how to submit your request.
Right to Request a Restriction on the Use or Disclosure of PHI
Patients have a right to request that their health information not be used or disclosed for certain treatment, payment, or operations. However, unless the health information pertains solely to an item or service for which the patient paid fully out-of-pocket, UCSF is not required to agree to the request. Additionally, UCSF does not have to agree to requests for restrictions on disclosures for treatment purposes even if the PHI pertains solely to a fully out-of-pocket paid item or service. For instructions on how to request a restriction on the use or disclosure of your health information, please read Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information.
Right to Request a Restriction on the Manner and Method of Confidential Communication
Patients have the right to request that UCSF send confidential communications to them in a specific method and manner. UCSF will accommodate reasonable requests based on administrative ability to comply. For instructions on how to request a restriction on UCSF Health’s communication, please read Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information.