The Butte County Department of Public Health Quality and Compliance Unit works with several other state and federal agencies to safeguard clients protected information. Below is a list of resources regarding privacy:
 
Dept. of Health and Human Services Privacy
This website contains information and videos about individuals’ rights with respect to their protected health information and also contains information for those entities covered by HIPAA.
 
Office for Civil Rights
This office handles complaints related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and is where you may file a complaint about your Protected Health Information.
 
Office for Human Research Protection
This Office manages clients’ protected health information as it relates to research studies.
 
California Department of Health Care Services Office of HIPAA Compliance
Responsible for implementing the regulations of HIPAA and works collaboratively with Butte County Department of Public Health to safeguard PHI and investigate privacy breaches and complaints.
 
State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General – Privacy Enforcement and Protection
Enforces state and federal privacy laws, empowers Californians with regards to their rights and strategies for protecting their privacy. This office also has a Consumer Privacy Resources page with significant information on topics like identity theft and online privacy.

Authorization to Use or Disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) Form

The authorization form may be used by you as a patient/client of Butte County Department of Public Health in order to initiate a request to have PHI about you disclosed outside of the department:

• View the Authorization to Use or Disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) Form in English
• View the Authorization to Use or Disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) Form in Spanish

Request for Access or Copy of Protected Health Information Form

This request for access form may be used by you as a patient/client to request the inspection of and/or to obtain a copy of your PHI, as well as to direct the department to transmit a copy of the PHI to the designated person or entity of choice:

• View the Request for Access or Copy of Protected Health Information Form in English
• View the Request for Access or Copy of Protected Health Information Form in Spanish

All department clients have certain rights with respect to their privacy. Your Protected Health Information, or PHI, for instance, is covered by HIPAA, and a variety of other state and federal laws. These laws require us to provide clients with a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices if we are your treating provider.
 
The Notice of Privacy Practices, or NPP, tells you how your personal information about your health may be used, who may see your information, where to file a complaint if you believe we mishandled your PHI, and other medical privacy rights.
 
The NPP also outlines your rights, such as your ability to access or request a copy of your PHI, to request an amendment to, a restriction of, or an accounting of disclosures regarding your PHI. You also have the right to request a specific way for us to contact you about your PHI. 

Select department programs also have agreements with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that may require additional and/or separate HIPAA confidentiality parameters.  These programs may provide and distribute DHCS’s version of the NPP as necessary.  However, at a minimum, all NPP’s distributed by the department must meet requirements as set forth in the federal HIPAA Privacy Rule.

For a complete description of your rights, view our Notice of Privacy Practices:
 
For more information send us an email or phone 530-552-4050.

Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)

• View the Notice of Privacy Practices in English
• View the Notice of Privacy Practices in Spanish

Notice of Privacy Practices Acknowledgment

This form helps the department demonstrate that we have given our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) to each patient at the first point of service. This form is used to obtain the client/patient’s signed acknowledgment of receipt.

• View the Notice of Privacy Practices Acknowledgment in English/Spanish (Dually Translated)

You have the right to file a complaint if you believe that Butte County Department of Public Health has given out or used your personal health information inappropriately. If you believe that an action was taken against you, please complete the department’s Complaint Form or contact the department’s Privacy officer at:

Privacy Compliant Form

• View the Privacy Complaint Form in English
• View the Privacy Complaint Form in Spanish

Contact the Department's Privacy Officer:

Under HIPAA rules it is unlawful for an employee of Butte County to take an action against you because you:

• Filed a privacy complaint;
• Helped with a privacy investigation; or
• Opposed a department practice that you think is unlawful under HIPAA.