Health policy concerns students

Many female students have been shocked and angered recently to learn that visiting Student Health for contraceptives or other womens' health matters may no longer be free or confidential --Edespite a clause to the contrary in the current Student Health Handbook. Although students covered by the University's health insurance are not charged for visits to Women's Health or for lab work such as pap smears, Student Health policy changes that went into effect September 1 could violate the confidentiality of the majority of undergraduate students covered through their parents' health insurance. Women's Health Coordinator Deborah Mathis explained that visits to Women's Health -- which used to be free for students not covered through the University -- are now billed to the students' private insurance companies as office visits. Depending on the individual policy, the companies, in turn, may send billing statements home to parents. And although the visits would appear as numeric code, many parents in the health field may be familiar enough with the universal codes to decipher the nature of their daughter's visit. Mathis admitted that the changes increased the likelihood that students' confidentiality may be compromised, but she said students can still pay for such visits in cash to eliminate such risks. "Typically we ask everyone to fill out insurance forms, but students can still pay in cash if they want to," Mathis explained, adding that her office won't charge students on their bursar bills for the portion of such visits not covered by their insurance. Student Health Director MarJeanne Collins added that if parents were to contact her office, asking it to divulge the nature of the billed visit, the "ethics of the profession require that all physician offices are confidential and by law services provided at Student Health are not communicated to anyone else without student consent." Mathis said many students have expressed concern over the new policy, with several opting to pay in cash or to visit the Planned Parenthood office at 11th and Locust streets. She added that Student Health has made up handouts explaining its new policies. College junior Natalie Denney said she went to Women's Health but was told to fill out insurance forms before a doctor would see her. She said she felt uncomfortable divulging her name, Social Security number and other personal information when the visit was supposed to be confidential, adding that the experience was "intimidating" and showed "total disregard for half the student body." A College sophomore visiting Women's Health yesterday who requested anonymity said she was surprised to find that Women's Health visits were not free and confidential as stated in the current Student Health Handbook. "There is no way I want my parents getting an insurance statement that says I came here for birth control pills," she said. And Denney expressed concern that the changes will "discourage students from taking care of their sexual health." "Women's Health used to be a wonderful, safe place, but students won't go to Women's Health to get examined and tested if they don't feel secure," she said.