Getting Your Data to the Right Place at the Right Time

Yes, patients can choose not to make their data available in CRISP. This action is called opting-out. If you opt-out of CRISP, none of your data will be shared with any healthcare provider you see for your care. You cannot pick and choose which healthcare providers you want to see your data and which ones you do not. Your data may still be shared for public health reporting and the Maryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), even if you opt-out of CRISP. PDMP and public health reporting are required by law. 

Yes, you can opt-in to CRISP at any time. Patients who want to opt back into CRISP should call the Support Line at 877-952-7477. The patient will need to give the support team the same information they gave when they opted out.

No. CRISP does not share any of your information with employers.

Maryland law lets healthcare providers view all their healthcare information in an emergency.

The law says an emergency is:

• When your healthcare provider believes it is necessary to prevent a serious threat to the health or safety of others.
• When your healthcare provider believes it is necessary to prevent or respond to imminent and serious harm to your health.

If you opt out of CRISP, your health information will not be shared in the case of an emergency.

The CRISP Family Reunification Portal will activate in the event of a mass casualty or state of emergency. During a declared state of emergency, patients and family members might get transported to different hospitals based on their needs. The Family Reunification Portal enables emergency responders to access your hospital encounter data (not other clinical data) to help locate individuals transported to a hospital. The Family Reunification portal will only be available for emergency response for the duration of the emergency and then deactivated once the event is over.

Yes. CRISP participates in National Health Information Networks and partners with other regional HIEs, which allow healthcare providers outside of Maryland to securely access your health information if they are involved in your care. 

This means doctors in other states may be able to view your information when you receive care across state lines, such as during travel or when referred to an out-of-state provider. 

Sharing information across states can be especially important in an emergency, when you may not be able to share your medical history yourself.

Federal rules say that an addiction treatment provider needs your consent before they share information about your addiction treatment. Information about substance use related to an emergency room visit is not covered by this law and may be shared without your okay unless you are opted out of CRISP.

Your doctor or healthcare provider must inform you if they share data with CRISP or look at your information through CRISP. This note is included in the Notice of Privacy Practices you receive when you check in at a hospital or health care provider’s office. They will also have CRISP materials in the waiting room.

CRISP began sharing information in 2010. Since then, more healthcare providers have been sharing information with CRISP. You may have records from as long ago as 2010. Ask your healthcare provider when they started sending data to CRISP and what types of information they sent.

All healthcare providers— including hospitals that participate in CRISP—are required to train their users on HIPAA requirements and CRISP’s Policies and Procedures. These safeguards help ensure that your health information is accessed only when permitted by federal and state law and in accordance with CRISP rules. 

You can learn more about who may access your health information—and the specific purposes for which it may be used—by clicking here.

Contact CRISP support at 877-952-7477 immediately, and we will investigate it. You can also talk to your doctor who participates with CRISP.

CRISP does not have a way to share information with patients. CRISP is working on the technology that will allow us to process patient requests for their health information available through CRISP. This process will include validating the requester’s identity and relationship with the patient. In the meantime, you can ask your healthcare provider what information they share with CRISP.

You should talk to your doctor or health care provider if you believe a mistake is in your medical record. They created your medical record and are the only ones who can change it. You can contact CRISP, and we can give you a list of health care providers who have shared information about you, but CRISP cannot change your medical record.

Yes, your current health insurance company (or payor) CAN access your data via CRISP for care coordination, care management, and quality improvement purposes. Your insurance company CAN NOT access your medical records via CRISP for benefit or eligibility determination.

No, CRISP does not notify your providers if you have opted out of CRISP. This policy may change in the future to improve their understanding of why there may be no information available about you via the network.

Yes—depending on the circumstances. Under Maryland law, anyone who is allowed to make their own healthcare decisions can choose to opt out of CRISP. For most children and teens who cannot legally consent to their own care, a parent or legal guardian may opt out on their behalf. 

You can find instructions on how to opt out earlier on this page. Please keep in mind that opting out of CRISP does not apply to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) or to health information that must be reported by law for public health purposes