The Voice

Any member who has ever contacted the UUP Benefit Trust Fund (BTF) about health-related benefits knows we don’t share this information easily. First, we verify the identity of the caller by asking for a name, address and NYSUT ID number. Once we have this information, we proceed to answer a member’s questions.

What many members may not know is that we cannot discuss benefits relating to other family members over age 19 without prior HIPAA authorization. HIPAA—the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act—is a federal law designed to safeguard personal health information such as medical conditions, treatment or payment for treatment.

The BTF must comply with these privacy safeguards. Questions that may seem innocuous—a spouse’s dental claim or a college-age dependent’s vision information—cannot be answered unless the BTF has a signed authorization on file.

The HIPAA form can be found at www.uupinfo.org/benefits/forms/Benefit Trust Fund HIPAA Authorization Form.pdf.