LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 501.06 Client Rights to Amend Mental Health Information
 
Policy Category:  Administrative
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated
Responsible Party:  Quality Assurance
 
Approved by Marvin J Southard, DSW, on April 14, 2003
 
I.  PURPOSE
 
To establish a uniform policy pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to ensure clients have the right to request that the Department of Mental Health (DMH) amend their Protected Health Information (PHI) maintained in a Designated Record Set. The requirements of this policy apply only to PHI for as long as the PHI is maintained in the Designated Record Set.
 
II.  DEFINITIONS
 
Protected Health Information means individually identifiable information relating to past, present or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, provision of health care to an individual or the past, present or future payment for health care provided to an individual.

Designated Record Set means a group of records that contain PHI maintained, collected, used or disclosed by or for the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health that includes medical, billing enrollment, payment, claims adjudication and other records used to make decisions about an individual.

Business Associate means a person or facility who, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, but not in the capacity of a workforce member, performs or assists in the performance of a function or activity involving the use or disclosure of PHI, or provides legal, actuarial, accounting, consulting, data aggregation, management, administrative, accreditation or financial services involving disclosure of PHI.

 
III.  POLICY
 
In accordance with the applicable state and federal laws, it is the policy of DMH to provide clients with the right to amend their PHI that is maintained by DMH in a Designated Record Set.
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
V.  AUTHORITY
 
VI.  ATTACHMENTS