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Behavioral Health Information Sharing & Privacy
Sharing individual health information is an important part of delivering quality health care. Individuals and their health care providers share information with each other to diagnose health issues, make decisions on treatments, and coordinate care.
Health care providers may share many kinds of health information with other providers for the purposes of payment, treatment, and health care operations. However, providers must receive specific consent to share an individual’s health records containing certain types of information. In Michigan, federal and state laws require providers to receive consent to share information such as mental health records (for purposes other than treatment, payment, and coordination of care) or information on treatment or referrals for alcohol and substance use disorder. More information and tools to navigate federal and state health information laws in Michigan can be found in the links below.
Michigan’s Vision for Improving Physical & Behavioral Health Integration through Information Sharing
The Michigan health care community has made significant progress in improving the sharing of behavioral health information over the last few years, and the community continues to build upon this progress to achieve better health outcomes for Michigan residents. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is working with stakeholders to build a framework for sharing health information. Click here for more information about Michigan's vision for a shared privacy framework for physical and behavioral health information: Michigan’s Vision for Improving Physical and Behavioral Health Integration through Information Sharing
Michigan Behavioral Health Standard Consent Form
In 2015, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released a standard consent form for the sharing of health information specific to behavioral health and substance use treatment. In Michigan, all providers are required to accept this new standard form.
Click here for more information about Michigan's standard consent form (MDHHS-5515): Michigan Behavioral Health Standard Consent Form
Protected Health Information Consent Tool
There are multiple state and federal laws that address what health information can be shared, when it can be shared, and with whom.
In order to reduce confusion about when an individual’s consent is necessary to share health information, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has resources to help clinicians, providers, payers, and others navigate the laws surrounding health information.
Click here for more information and tools to help navigate federal and state health information laws in Michigan: Protected Health Information Consent Tool
HIPAA
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs all health care information sharing. It is intended to protect the confidentiality of specific types of personal health information while allowing information to flow when needed for patient care.
Click here for more information on HIPAA: HIPAA Information and Resources