HIPAA is a federal law developed to improve the portability of health care coverage for people who lose or change employment, promote administrative simplification through the use of electronic transactions, and ensure the security and privacy of personal health information.
You may voluntarily choose, at any time, to discuss a medical situation with your supervisor or co-workers. This is a personal choice and is not required. In many cases, though, sharing this information may lead to a great deal of support and encouragement.
Yes. Authorization may be revoked in writing at any time.
No, but providing authorization allows Work Connections to assist you in obtaining all information necessary for your department to authorize the payment of sick time and determine your ability to work.
As an employee, you are responsible for providing sufficient medical documentation to support absence due to disability. Work Connections provides assistance by identifying what medical documentation is needed. As a courtesy, with authorization from you, Work Connections will request it from providers on your behalf. If a treatment provider is non-cooperative, Work Connections will notify you that our efforts to obtain medical documentation on your behalf have been unsuccessful.
Work Connections services are designed to help you manage your disability and safe return to work. Authorizing Work Connections to obtain your medical information enables us to meet certain University requirements in order to expedite payment of your sick time or other disability benefits. In addition, developing a relationship with your treatment team and obtaining complete medical information is critical to coordinating an effective plan to help you.
Your health information belongs to you and Work Connections guards it appropriately. This means that your medical information is kept secure, private, and out of public view. Medical information is never sent to your home department. Maintaining appropriate confidentiality is a fundamental principle of the program. Health information will be released only in the following circumstances:
- With written authorization from you
- When a strict need to know is established (e.g., for health/safety reasons, or to make employment status decisions)
- To comply with the requirements of the Workers’ Disability Compensation Act
Workers’ Compensation provides for benefits conforming to state law, which may include wage replacement, medical, and rehabilitation benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of a job-related injury (including death), or disease related to work.
Work Connections is responsible for administration of Workers’ Compensation benefits and can answer any questions you may have about these benefits. Your claims representative will also act as a liaison to help you understand other benefits to which you may be entitled and coordinate communication with the appropriate offices.
Work Connections staff will assist and support you and you in the following ways during your recovery period:
- Contact you on a regular basis and act as a central clearinghouse for information
- Communicate with treating physicians and define options for treatment, facilitate care and identify what we can do to assist you during recovery
- Provide ongoing status reports to your department regarding your expected absence and duration of disability
- Respond to your questions or assist with identifying the appropriate resources or content experts to respond to your questions about benefits, employment status, salary, and other issues that may arise
- Explore options for assistance from other University resources
- Provide appropriate updates to your department and the physician as needed
- Answer questions and provide health resources information to you, if needed
