Access to Your Health Data

Members can tell South Country to share their health data with third-party apps on their smartphone, tablet or other similar devices.

Following new federal rules on sharing health data, South Country has built a platform apps can register with to access your health data at your direction. This will allow you to share health data with a third-party app.

Protect the privacy and security of your health data

Take care when choosing which apps you share your health data with. Health data can be very sensitive. We donโ€™t control how third-party apps use or share your health data. We donโ€™t review third-party apps or their privacy and security standards for your health data.

We recommend choosing apps with strong privacy and security standards. Always read appsโ€™ terms of use first. They should have an easy-to-read and find privacy policy. This should tell you how they plan to use your data. Some apps may share your health data with other third parties. If they donโ€™t have a privacy policy, think again about using the app.

Also, consider choosing a third-party app that follows the CARIN Code of Conduct. The CARIN Code of Conduct is a set of industry-leading best practices that the companies offering these apps have voluntarily adopted to protect and secure your health information. ย Visit https://myhealthapplication.com (external website) to see a list of apps that follow these best practices.

What to think about when choosing to share your health data with a 3rd party app

  • What health data will this app collect?
  • Will this app collect non-health data from my phone, such as my location?
  • Will this app store my data in a de-identified or anonymized form?
  • How will this app use my data?
  • Will this app share my data with other third parties?
  • Will this app sell my data for any reason, such as advertising or research?
  • Will this app share my data for any reason? If so, with whom? For what purpose?
  • How can I limit this appโ€™s use and disclosure of my data?
  • What security measures does this app use to protect my data?
  • What impact does sharing my data with this app have on others? Does this impact my family members?
  • Does this app have a process for collecting and responding to user complaints?
  • If I no longer want to use this app, or if I no longer want this app to have access to my health information, how do I stop the app from getting my data? Do I have to do more than just delete the app from my device?
  • What is the appโ€™s policy for removing my data once I end access?
  • Do I have to do more than just delete the app from my device?
  • How does this app tell users about changes that could affect its privacy practices?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long will the third-party app hold my data it receives from South Country Health Alliance?

  • South Country does not know or control how long an app may hold your health data that it receives from us. An app should explain in its privacy policy and/or terms of use how it will use your health data and its policy for deleting your data.
  • We recommend choosing apps with strong privacy and security standards. Once you send your health data to a third-party app, it is likely no longer protected by certain health privacy laws, such as HIPAA. Review the above privacy and security suggestions when deciding who to share your health data with.

How do third-party apps protect my data?

  • We donโ€™t know or control how third-party apps protect your health data. We donโ€™t review third-party apps or their privacy and security standards for your health data.
  • We recommend choosing apps with strong privacy and security standards. Review the above privacy and security suggestions when deciding who to share your health data with.

Do third-party apps have to follow HIPAA rules?

What types of health data will be shared?

  • If you tell South Country to share your data with a third-party app, the app will have access to encounters, claims, and certain clinical data about you. This may include, but is not limited to, claim information, medications, procedures, conditions, immunizations and doctor visits.

How much of my data will be shared?

  • If you tell South Country to share your data with a third-party app, the app will have access to your data from as far back as January 1, 2016 from relevant health plans.
  • The health data sent is not your complete medical history or a substitute for your full, official health records. The health data sent includes health data about you held by South Country as your health plan under parts of certain government programs, like Medicare or Medicaid.

Can I block only some sensitive data from going to a third-party app?

  • When you tell South Country to share your health data with an app, we share all of your relevant claim, encounter and clinical data.
  • We currently cannot limit app access to certain types of data, while sharing access to others.
  • If you do not want your sensitive data shared with an app, you should not authorize South Country to share your data with that app at all.

How will a third-party app use my data?

  • Once you tell us to share your health data with a third-party app, we do not know or control how the app will use your data. We donโ€™t review third-party apps or their privacy or security practices for your health data.
  • You should carefully read the appโ€™s privacy policy and terms of use to understand how the app will use your data.

Will third-party apps share my data with others, such as marketing firms?

  • Once you tell us to share your health data with a third-party app, we do not know or control how that app may further share your data. We donโ€™t review third-party apps or their privacy or security practices for your health data.
  • Some third-party apps may share your health data with other third parties.
  • You should carefully read the appโ€™s privacy policy and terms of use to understand if and how the app may share your data with other third parties.

What should I do if information is missing or wrong?

  • Some information may not show up in the apps. There are several reasons this might happen:
    • Providers did not submit health information to South Country.
    • Providers did not submit claims to South Country. Providers have up to 6 months to submit claims, so there might be a delay in getting the information.
    • South Country has received a claim, but it has not yet gone through our payment process.
    • The app you are using has not collected information from a previous health plan. If you feel that either health or claims/payment information in your record is wrong or missing, please contact your health care provider. South Country is only able to share information that has been shared with us by providers.

I need more information. Who can I talk to?

  • For questions about how a third-party app may use, share or display your data, you should contact the app developer.
  • For questions about how South Country can share your data with a third-party app at your request, you should call the Member Services number on your ID card.

Authorize the Transmission of Your Data

Do you want to tell South Country to share your health data with a third-party app?

Follow the steps below to share your health data with a third-party app:

  1. Start by choosing a third-party app you want to use to view your health data. If South Country Health Alliance is listed within the app, you may be able to send your health data there.
  2. Next, you will need to be registered. Contact the South Country Member Services Call Center by calling toll free 1-866-567-7242, or by relay TTY 1-800-627-3529 or 711, or by filling out our Contact Form.

Last Updated on 05/22/2023 by Chris Gartner

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