Data privacy

Notice of privacy practices

• People enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP):
  • People age 65 or older, blind or have a disability: MHCP Notice of Privacy Practices (DHS-4839E)
  • Parents or relative caretakers, children, pregnant women or adults age 21 to 64 without dependent children: MHCP Notice of Privacy Practices (DHS-4839K)
  • People applying for or enrolling in the Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP) Notice of Privacy Practices (DHS-4839A)
• People receiving services through Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing State Services Division, Mental Health Program: Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing State Services Division Terms of Service and Notice of Privacy Practices (DHS-8087L)
• Ryan White Program participants: Ryan White Program Notice of Privacy Practices, Rights and Responsibilities (DHS-3539E)

Privacy program plan

A privacy program is a comprehensive framework of how an organization handles protected data to comply with privacy laws, mitigate risks, and protect individuals’ rights. The Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Privacy Program Plan describes how DHS protects not public data through a privacy program that ensures compliance with applicable privacy requirements, develops and evaluates privacy policies, and manages privacy risks. The Privacy Program for DHS focuses on legal and administrative requirements for creating a proactive and responsive data privacy environment that protects DHS clients and the private data they share with DHS.

DHS Privacy Program Plan (PDF)

Data privacy complaints

You may complain if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You cannot be denied service or treated badly because you have made a complaint. If you believe that your medical privacy was violated by your doctor or clinic, a health insurer, a health plan, or a pharmacy, you may send a written complaint to either the county agency, or the federal civil rights office at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights, Region V
233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 240
Chicago, IL 60601

312-886-2359 (voice)
800-368-1019 (toll free)
800-537-7697 (TTY)
312-886-1807 (fax)

If you believe the Minnesota Department of Human Services violated your privacy rights you may also send a written complaint to:

Minnesota Department of Human Services
Attention: Data Complaint
P.O. Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998