​​Health Benefits Program Collection Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is governed by the BC Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). FNHA can only collect, use and share your information with your consent and as allowed by PIPA. You have the right to change or withdraw your consent at any time and FNHA will only use your information in a way that honours your rights and choices. 

FNHA is committed to providing culturally safe and trauma-informed care and services. This means FNHA will work to create safe spaces, recognize the impacts of colonialism and systemic harm, and strive to build respectful relationships. FNHA understands that your personal information is part of your story and will handle it securely, with care, respect, and in accordance with PIPA, FNHA's shared vision, values, the 7 Directives, and Privacy Policy. 

What personal information does the FNHA Health Benefits Program collect?

The FNHA First Nations Health Benefits Program provides certain benefit coverage through a partnership with Pacific Blue Cross (PBC). When you or someone on your behalf submits an application for registration to FNHA and/or a claim to PBC for health benefits, FNHA collects personal information, including details about the health-related items and services you receive and claims you submit to PBC, including your: status number, PHN, gender, date of birth, address, date of service, benefit type, procedure or item description, provider contact information, submitted charges, claim status, eligible amounts and amount paid by FNHA. 

For what purpose(s) is your personal information collected, used and disclosed? When you apply for registration to the First Nations Health Benefits Program, FNHA uses your personal information to register you for health benefits. When you submit a claim for health benefits to PBC, PBC shares claim information with the FNHA to support plan administration and to improve services being provided under the First Nations Health Benefits Program. 

To support the First Nations Health Benefit Program plan administration, FNHA uses and shares your personal information with PBC for the following purposes:

• to manage and coordinate your health benefits;
• to administer and deliver your health benefits;
• to answer questions from you or your health care provider(s) about your coverage;
• to confirm your eligibility for coverage;
• to assess, validate and adjudicate health benefits claims and to investigate fraud or misuse; and
• to review appeals, exception requests and denied claims.

To support service improvement, your personal information may be used by the FNHA for the following purposes:

• to evaluate and improve the First Nations Health Benefits Program, including for training purposes;
  
• to conduct data aggregation and statistical analysis; and​
• to comply with FNHA's reporting and funding obligations.

How is your personal information shared?

The FNHA shares your personal information with the following Third-Party Partners (Partners) and with your health care professionals in order to enhance the health programs and services that you receive and administer the First Nations Health Benefits Program: 

1. The BC Ministry of Health

• FNHA shares a list of clients using certain medications with the BC Ministry of Health to support PharmaCare Special Authority coverage for those medications. 

2. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) 

• FNHA also shares benefit usage information with ISC to help determine benefit eligibility. 

3. First Nations in BC

• FNHA may share non-identifiable health-related information with First Nations leadership, First Nations health service organizations, and leaders in health systems to support thoughtful planning and decision-making that benefit First Nations people.
• We only share information in group form (also called aggregate data). This means the reports are carefully prepared to remove any details that could identify you as a participant of the Health Benefits Program. FNHA is legally responsible for making sure that no individual can be identified in the group-level data we share. We take this responsibility seriously to protect your privacy in ways that honour your rights and maintain your trust. 
• In honouring OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession), FNHA does not release data about a specific First Nation community without the consent of the community leadership. This does not displace the need for individual consent under PIPA prior to disclosure of personal information. 
  

How is your personal information kept secure?

The security of your information is important to the FNHA and our Partners. The FNHA uses appropriate technological safeguards, to protect your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information in FNHA's custody or under its control. Our Partners are required to protect your personal information with security standards consistent with applicable federal or provincial privacy laws. 

Questions?

• For more information about your health benefits claims records and to request copies, visit Request Health Records or Health Benefits Claims Records.
• If you have questions about how your personal information is handled or to withdraw your consent, contact healthbenefits@fnha.ca. For more information on FNHA's privacy practices, visit: fnha.ca/about/data-and-privacy​​​