Protecting your privacy

Security and compliance

At Kaiser Permanente, we are committed to ethical conduct, integrity in our work, and compliance with all regulatory requirements. We work hard to protect your privacy, prevent fraud, and use health care resources wisely.

We provide training and resources to help our employees and physicians keep your information private and help prevent fraud and identity theft. We actively monitor our systems and operations to detect signs of misconduct and are committed to taking corrective action as needed.

We encourage members, vendors, and others to let us know if they are aware of any situation at Kaiser Permanente that may be unlawful.

 

Protecting your privacy and security

Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of your health information.

We have policies, procedures, and systems in place to keep your electronic, written, and oral health information secure.

Medical records and patient information are stored in areas with limited access. In addition, medical, claims, and other sensitive information in data systems are protected by network security safeguards such as firewalls, anti-virus software, and passwords. Staff members keep your information confidential when speaking with colleagues or with you over the phone. Staff members who have access to such information are trained and monitored for compliance within confidentiality and security guidelines.

As part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Kaiser Permanente provides a notice about your privacy rights and Kaiser Permanente's privacy practices. The notice describes how protected health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. View our Notice of Privacy Practices.

What to do if you suspect a privacy breach.

 

Protecting you from fraud

Preventing fraud, waste, and abuse is part of our mission to provide quality health care. Health care fraud increases the cost of care for all of us. It also can threaten the quality of health care delivery.

It is fraud when someone else uses your Kaiser Permanente identification card to obtain care. Not only does it abuse and waste members’ health care resources, this type of fraud is a crime. It can also put the wrong information into your medical record, because someone who falsely assumes your identity to obtain care may have a different blood type or medication allergy than you. This could cause you harm later on.

That is why we check your Kaiser Permanente identification card and ask for a picture ID every time you come in for a visit. We want to make sure the right person is getting the right health care service.

It is also fraud when your identity or information is stolen and used to obtain credit, benefits, or money.

We have a team of experienced crime and fraud investigators who review and investigate reported cases of potential fraud. They also investigate misconduct identified through monitoring our systems and operations.

Learn what to do if you suspect fraud.

 

Protect yourself from identity theft

There are some steps you can take to help prevent your personal information from being stolen.

  • Safeguard your health and identification information just as securely as you would a credit card or bank account number. This includes:
    • your Kaiser Permanente identification card and number
    • your Medicare number
    • your Social Security number
  • Don't give out personal information unnecessarily.

The following government resources may help you protect yourself from identity theft:

Reviewed by: Quality, Risk Management & Patient Safety Department, July, 2018