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On March 9, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Interoperability and Patient Access final rule. This rule requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement a secure application programming interface (commonly known as an “API”) that gives Medicare members easy access to their health information.
With this new functionality, you can access your electronic personal health information via a third-party application (“app”) that has registered with Sharp Health Plan. With your permission, the app will retrieve your personal health data from Sharp Health Plan and make it available for you to view.
It is important to us that your health information is staying private and secure. You will use the username and password that you create for your Personal Data Release account to give Sharp Health Plan permission to share your personal data with a third-party app. This helps ensure that your information will not be read or understood by someone who is not authorized to view it. This also helps Sharp Health Plan keep a record of who has looked at your information, what changes were made and when. You will only need to set up your Personal Data Release account once.
Read an app’s privacy policy carefully before you give it permission to use your health information. Follow recommendations to keep your information safe and protect yourself from scams, fraud and abuse. For the app to pull your data from Sharp Health Plan, they will need to be registered with us and connected to our API. Since this is new technology, initially the number of third-party apps that have chosen to connect with Sharp Health Plan may be limited.
Depending on your device operating system, you can browse apps in Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store. Apps may also charge you a subscription fee.
At Sharp Health Plan, we take your privacy and security seriously. Once you download your health information from us, it’s important for you to keep it as safe and secure as possible.
Your health information is very sensitive information. Be careful to choose apps with strong privacy and security standards to protect it. Ask yourself the following questions when you consider giving an app permission to use your information.
If an app’s privacy policy does not clearly answer these questions, then you should reconsider using that app to access your health information.
In order to keep your personal health information safe, you must take an active role in protecting it. Follow these safety precautions when viewing and managing your information.
Staying informed and keeping your information secure is key to protecting yourself and others from scams, fraud and abuse. Here are tips to avoid potential fraud and abuse.
If you suspect that you may have been involved in a fraud or abuse incident, or if you receive information that isn’t what you expected or doesn’t make sense to you, report it right away.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA, is the federal law that sets rules for health care providers and health insurance companies, like Sharp Health Plan, on who can look at and receive your health information. Your health information can be used and shared for specific reasons, not directly related to your care, like making sure doctors give good care, making sure nursing homes are clean and safe, reporting when the flu is in your area, or reporting as required by state and federal law.
HIPAA regulations protect and secure your health information when it is held by your health care provider (such as your doctor or hospital) or Sharp Health Plan. HIPAA does not apply to your health information once you authorize a third party to access it.
If you are an app developer, visit our Resources for Application Developers page.
Sharp Direct Advantage is offered by Sharp Health Plan. Sharp Health Plan is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment with Sharp Health Plan depends on contract renewal. Read the full disclaimer.
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