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Californians are fortunate to have the strongest patients' rights laws in the nation. The DMHC is here to make sure these laws are followed and that all health plan members get the right care at the right time. Find out how in this section.
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Request For Personal Information
Occasionally, individuals may have personal information they wish to review in the
Department's records. Such information usually consists of:
- A complaint concerning an enrollee's health plan, as submitted to the
Department
- The health plan's response to the enrollee's complaint
- The results of an Independent Medical Review regarding denial of treatment
for an enrollee
Under California's Information Practices Act of 1977 (IPA), Civil Code §§ 1798 et
seq., the Department must strictly protect the confidentiality of any personal
information in its records, such as an individual's name, address, social security
number, and medical information. For that reason, people who request personal
information must provide proof of identification before the Department can release
the information to the individual or his or her authorized representative.
How to Request Personal Information
Requests for personal information must be made in writing and should clearly specify
the records sought. Requestors must verify their identity when seeking to view
their records, either through a notarized signature when requesting mailed records
or by presenting official identification when examining records in person. To request
either method of viewing personal records, please print out, complete, and submit
to the Department the form below
The Department will allow inspection or provide copies of responsive documents
within 30 days of receipt of the request.
How to View Personal Records
Requestors may inspect personal records in person, or ask that photocopies of the
records be mailed either directly to them or to their authorized representative.
To inspect records in person, the requestor must schedule an appointment by phoning
916-322-6727. At the time of the appointment, the requestor will need to show a
government-issued identification card. Photocopies of the records can be made at that time
for a fee of $.10 per page.
To have records mailed, the requestor must send the Department an original letter,
not a facsimile, or a printout of a completed Request for Personal Information Form.
The letter or form must be signed, and a notary public must verify the signature.
Attorneys or other representatives must present proof of authorization to the
Department before an individual's personal records will be mailed to the
representative.
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