Primary Care Services

There is no charge for a student, spouse, or domestic partner to see a medical caregiver at Student Health Services. If a student, spouse, or domestic partner needs to see a provider or obtain services outside of Student Health Services, you will need a referral from Student Health Services (read Student Health Services Referral Requirement below).

Most medical care will be provided at no cost, except for applicable deductibles or co-pays, if:

• care is provided by Student Health Services or
• care is provided by a member of the Student Health Services network of participating physicians and the care is pre-approved by Student Health Services.

Student Health Services will only cover the costs of services obtained outside of Student Health Services if those services have been approved by and/or coordinated through Student Health Services.  This includes any laboratory testing, consultations, or procedures.

Student Health Services provides limited benefits while away from WUSM. Upon returning to the campus, the student must return to Student Health Services for necessary follow-up care and referrals.

Dependent children are not eligible to use Student Health Services. See Section entitled Dependent Coverage below.

Student Health Service provides a variety of services for full-time students registered in the medical and allied professional schools of the medical campus. It offers easy access to medical and psychiatric care so that physical and emotional problems will interfere as little as possible with university life. All outpatient Student Health Services benefits take effect on the date of registration (if all health requirements are met )and continue as long as you maintain full-time student status. These benefits cease the date you withdraw, graduate, or complete a course of study by submitting thesis paperwork to the appropriate office.

Confidentiality of medical records

Medical records are considered privileged communication and will not be released without your written consent, with the exception of communicable diseases. The State Statute requires notification to the official Public Health Agency for epidemiological purposes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires that records relating to students/employees exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents must be retained for at least thirty years after exposure.  This requirement includes any and all other health records of the exposed student/employee. The definition of exposure is: Human blood or body fluids, animal, TB conversion. Student records containing invasive procedures and/or pathology reports are required to be maintained for ten years. Student Health will maintain all designated record set (medical record) for graduated/withdrawn student for a minimum of ten years, 30 years for students defined as exposed. All account payable records will be maintained for five years.

WUSM Student Health Services acknowledges the interplay between Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA):

When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, all rights afforded to parents under FERPA transfer to the student. Postsecondary institutions that provide health or medical services to students may share student medical treatment records with parents under the circumstances described by FERPA. While these records may otherwise be governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the HIPAA privacy rule excludes student medical treatment records and other records protected by FERPA.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Notice

The University acknowledges the privacy rights of its students as expressed in its Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA) Act Notice.

Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act

The University acknowledges the privacy rights of its students and others as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA). HIPAA policies adopted by the University are designed to protect personal information related to health care, including financial information. The security safeguards are outlined in Security Measures Required to Comply with Privacy Policies.

Fees for processing your requested information

Student Health may charge a fee for the copying of requested Protected Health Information (PHI). This fee will be based on the cost of the labor and supplies involved in copying the requested PHI, the postage for mailing the copies to you, and a retrieval fee to obtain the requested PHI. Student Health Services will respond to your request for PHI within 30 days of our receipt of your request, within 60 days for all records stored off-site. If it requires additional time to respond to your request, Student Health Services will contact you to inform you of this extension of time.

Identification cards

At the time of orientation, all new students will be given a Medical Benefit Identification card. This card should be shown to all caregivers outside of our offices to ensure proper billing.

The group number is MED8030. If you need a replacement card, you may pick one up at our office.