Your Rights & Responsibilities

Your Rights

As a PHS member and patient of medical care, you have many rights.
The right to your own expression, decision making, and actions.
These rights include, but are not limited to, the following:

You have the right to:

• be treated with respect and in a civil manner.
• be informed of providers who speak a language other than
  English.
• your own personal dignity and privacy, including protection of
  any information that identifies you (see privacy information
  included in your member packet).
• confidential records about your health care. No medical records
  will be released without your written consent, except to approved
  agencies.
• report a complaint or grievance about PHS or the care given
  and expect a response within a short time.
• get a written notice when a service is being denied, reduced or
  terminated and the right to grieve or request a hearing against
  that decision.
• talk about your medical record with your PCP and to get a
  review of that record when you ask for it. This is your right
  under Federal and State laws.
• information about PHS, its services and providers in a language
  that you understand.
• have services provided in a culturally competent manner, with
  consideration of limited English proficiency, reading skills,
  cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well as visual and auditory
  limitations.
• choose a PCP from PHS providers and the right to change your
  PCP if you are not happy with the assigned PCP. (Some limitations)
• talk with a medical provider or any person in charge of your
  medical care.
• refuse care from any provider.
• take part in your health care decisions.
• make advance decisions about your health care and have them
  carried out.
• be treated fairly, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex,
  sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status,
  physical or mental handicap or ability to pay.
• request information on whether PHS has Physician Incentive
  Plans (PIP) that affect the use of referral services. (PHS does not
  have PIP’s.)
• know the types of compensation the plan uses
• know whether stop-loss insurance is required
• a summary of member survey results