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How TRS May Use and Disclose Your Protected Health Information Certain uses and disclosures do not require your written permission. For any use or disclosure of your protected health information that is described immediately below, TRS and/or Medical Board members, auditors, actuarial consultants, lawyers, health plan administrators or pharmacy benefit managers acting on behalf of TRS, TRS-Care or TRS-ActiveCare may use and disclose your protected health information without your written permission (an authorization). %u2022 For all activities that are included within the definitions of %u201cpayment,%u201d %u201ctreatment%u201d and %u201chealth care operations%u201d as set out in 45 C.F.R. Section 164.501, including the following noted below. This notice does not contain all of the activities found within these definitions; refer to 45 C.F.R. Section 164.501 for a complete list. When %u201cTRS%u201d is used below in describing these reasons, the auditors, actuarial consultants, lawyers, health plan administrators and pharmacy benefit managers acting on behalf of TRS, TRS-Care or TRS-ActiveCare are intended to be included. %u2022 For treatment. TRS is not a medical provider and does not directly participate in decisions about what kind of health treatment you should receive. TRS also does not maintain your current medical records. However, TRS may disclose your protected health information for treatment purposes. For example, TRS may disclose your protected health information if your doctor asks that TRS disclose the information to another doctor to help in your treatment. %u2022 For payment. Here are two examples of how TRS might use or disclose your protected health information for payment. TRS may use or disclose your information to prepare a bill for medical services to you or another person or the company responsible for paying the bill. The bill may include information that identifies you, the health services you received and why you received those services. The second example is that TRS could use or disclose your protected health information to collect your premium payments. %u2022 For health care operations. TRS may use or disclose your protected health information to support health plan administration functions. TRS may provide your protected health information to its accountants, attorneys, consultants and others in order to make sure TRS is complying with the laws that affect it. For example, your protected health information may be given to people looking at the quality of the health care you received. Another example of health care operations is TRS using and sharing this information to manage its business and perform its administrative activities. %u2022 When federal, state or local law, judicial or administrative proceedings, or law enforcement requires a use or disclosure. For example, upon receipt of your request for disability retirement benefits, TRS and members of the Medical Board may use your protected health information to determine if you are entitled to a disability retirement. TRS may disclose your protected health information:%u2022 To a federal or state criminal law enforcement agency that asks for the information for a law enforcement purpose; %u2022 To a law enforcement official for the purpose of alerting law enforcement of your death if TRS has a suspicion that your death may have resulted from criminal conduct; %u2022 To the Texas Attorney General to collect child support or to ensure health care coverage for your child;%u2022 In response to a subpoena if the TRS Executive Director determines that you will have a reasonable opportunity to contest the subpoena; %u2022 To a governmental entity, an employer or a person acting on behalf of the employer to the extent that TRS needs to share the information to perform TRS%u2019s business;%u2022 To the Texas Legislature or agencies of the state or federal government, including, but not limited to health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, such as audits; investigations; inspections; licensure or disciplinary actions; civil, administrative, or criminal proceedings or actions; or other activities. Oversight agencies seeking this information include government agencies that oversee; (i) the health care system, (ii) government benefit programs, (iii) other government regulatory programs, and (iv) compliance with civil rights laws; www.bcbstx.com/trsactivecare 35