Understanding Consent
Navigating consent within the Wyoming CommuniCare platform can raise important questions for both providers and participants. This document addresses the most common and pressing inquiries related to how consent is obtained, managed, and respected across the system. Whether you’re new to CommuniCare or seeking clarity on specific scenarios, these FAQs are designed to provide straightforward, reliable answers to help you feel confident and informed.
Why Would a Client Want to Share Their Information in Wyoming CommuniCare?
Wyoming CommuniCare simplifies access to care and strengthens collaboration. With CommuniCare, clients can easily connect to the services they need while choosing to securely share their information with trusted agencies. This means they tell their story once, saving time, reducing paperwork, and avoiding the frustration of repeating details. At the same time, providers stay informed and connected, making it easier to deliver coordinated, person-centered care.
What Is Informed Consent?
Informed consent is a conversation between a provider and client, where the client gets clear and important information to help them make decisions that match their values and goals.
- Clients have the right to make decisions about their wellbeing, including who supports them and how their health data is shared to coordinate care. It is important that clients understand what information will be shared, how it will be shared, who will see it, and why so they know how it may affect them.
Does a Client Have to Consent to Share Their Information to Get the Help They Need?
No, providing consent is not mandatory. If the client decides not consent to share their information, that’s okay. Providers can still send referrals through the system, but they won’t be able to see the client’s information from other agencies
What If Consent Isn’t Returned?
If consent isn’t returned, secure information can’t be shared between providers at different agencies. This can lead to clients having to repeat their story several times, and it makes it harder for providers to work together to offer coordinated, wraparound services.
What Are the Different Methods of Consent?
- No Consent
- Only basic details like name and contact info are visible. No other data is shared between agencies. Providers can still use tools like referrals and case notes, but they can only see information from their own organization.
- Full / Network-Wide Consent
- The client agrees to let providers across the network join their care team, send referrals, and share information to help coordinate care.
- Team Member Approval
- The client allows current care team members to approve new providers who want to join the team and access shared information.
- Client Approval
- The client personally approves each new provider who wants to join their care team and access shared data.
How Are Providers Added to a Client’s Care Team?
The client chooses how new Care Team members are added, based on the consent level they select. There are three options:
- Full / Network-Wide Consent
- Any provider in the network can add themselves to the client’s Care Team.
- Team Member Consent
- Only providers already on the Care Team can invite other providers to join the Care Team.
- Client Consent
- Each new provider must be approved directly by the client before joining the Care Team.
Can All Care Team Members See the Same Information?
No. Each Care Team member has specific roles and permissions. They can only see the information they need to support the client as part of their job.
Does the Client Know Who Is on Their Care Team?
It depends on the type of consent the client chooses:
- Client Approved Consent
- The client approves each provider, so they always know who’s on their Care Team.
- Team Member or Full/Network-Wide Consent
- Any current Care Team member can tell the client who’s on the team.
Can Consent Be Changed or Revoked by the Client?
Yes. A client can change or revoke their consent at any time by contacting any provider on their Care Team.
Can a Client Choose What Agencies on Their Care Team?
Yes. A client can request to a member on their Care Team if they would like an agency removed from their Care Team.
Does the Consent Expire?
Yes. Consent expires two years after the date it was signed.