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T#E}Y
ALSETTA
HEALTH

Offitt uf thc Miu*ta

JUL Z ? tgg8

Gary Dickson, Q.C. Mt A

Calgary Bufialo
Alberta Liberal Health Critic
201 Legislature Annex
Edmonton, Alberta
TsK 1 E4

Dear Mr. Dickson:

Thank you for your letter of June 15, 1998, regarding the concerns fonrvarded to you
about health information.

One concem pertains to diagnostic mde 302-0-homosexuality. Alberta Health uses a

clinical modification of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (lCD-
9) for diagnostic coding. This coding was developed by Sre World Health Oqganization
\ and is used world wide- A new ding struEture has been developed which Alberta
Health is considering. This new coding will address the concems regarding the
dassification of the diagnostic code for homosexualig.

The only medical information Alberta Health collects is information which enables them
to process payment to practitioneFs for the services they provide. This information is
necsssary fur the administration of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan and there
are very strict legislative guidelines in place with respest to the release of this
information.

Secrecy of information is expliciUy detailed in the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act
(section 13) and Alberta Hp-alth ennployees al= bcunC under oath to .*ollo'w these
guidelines.

An Alberta resident may request a Statement of Benefits Paid which lists the services
Alberta Health has paid on their behalf, the name of the service provider. the date of
service and the benefit paid. A statement for the cunent benefit period n available free
of charge by phoning 4U-lR2- A fee of $64.20, induding GST, is charged for a
statement for any period other than the current period. This must be a written request
accompanied b! the paymenl

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228 Lrgislaturc Building, Edmonron, Albe rta, Canada TsK 286 Telephtrne 403 / 4U-36&5 Fax {03/{lH1!}61
 7e (

Gary Dickson A
Page Two ^/

Technology offens the benefits of being able to secure information, and remove any
information that would identify individual Albertans. Tha Pharmac,y Network is building
additional safeguards into the system to further protect the privary of Alberta residents.

Afberta residents can acces#view their personaf inbrmalion and if necessary cored :

information through the Freedom of Information and Proteclion of Privacy Act (FOIP). -
Encfosed are FOIP forms used to request access to information, @nect personal
information and request for a review. For more information residents can contact the
Information and Prtvacy Commission's office direefly,

I trust this provides th€ information you requirc.

Yours sincerely,

flr#*
Halvar C. Jonson
Minister

Enclosures