Last Modified: 12/30/2022
Location: FL, PR, USVI
Business: Part A, Part B
The privacy of our customers is of primary importance to First Coast Service Options, Inc. (First Coast). When you visit one of First Coast’s provider websites, First Coast does not collect any personally identifiable information (PII) about you unless you choose to explicitly provide it. However, First Coast does collect some data about your site visit to better understand public use of the site and to make it more useful to visitors. Below is a description of the type of information that is automatically collected and stored during your site visit. By visiting our Site and/or using our Services, you are agreeing to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
When you browse through any website, certain information about your visit may be collected. First Coast uses a web analytics program to collect information automatically and continuously. First Coast uses this information to measure the number of visitors to its sites and their respective sections and to distinguish between new and returning visitors to help make the First Coast sites more useful to visitors. However, no PII is collected.
The First Coast web team conducts analyses and reports on the aggregated data from the analytics tool. The reports are only available to the First Coast provider website manager, members of the website staff, and other designated staff who require this information to perform their duties.
First Coast also uses online surveys from a random sample of visitors to obtain feedback and data on visitors’ satisfaction with the First Coast websites. This survey does not collect PII, unless you enter it as part of your feedback. Participation in the survey is voluntary. If you decline to participate, you will still have access to the identical information and resources on First Coast’s provider websites as those who do decide to take the survey. Answers to the survey help First Coast improve its provider websites to make them easier to use and more responsive to the needs of site visitors.
The First Coast web team conducts analyses and reports on the aggregated data from the survey. The reports are available only to the First Coast website manager, members of the First Coast website staff and other designated staff who require this information to perform their duties.
Some web-based tools may securely collect PII for authentication and to research specific information in relation to your inquiry. Please note features requesting this information include, but are not limited to the following applications:
First Coast collects PII from you to establish your account and to properly authenticate you for access to the provider web portal.
First Coast collects PII from you to identity the provider associated with the application.
First Coast collects PII from you to validate the beneficiary and provider associated with the claim for reopening.
First Coast collects PII from you to register you for educational events and to authenticate you for continuing education unit (CEU) certificates.
PII collected for these tools and applications, such as the provider portal, reopenings gateway, provider enrollment gateway, learning center registration, and MyCEUCertificate gateway, is only available to authorized First Coast administrative users.
From the First Coast provider websites:
• Web analytics -- for performance and generic new/returning
• User usage metrics
• Surveys/Feedback -- user satisfaction feedback for site enhancements
• Partial name, MBI – for IVR conversion tool
• Customer contact information (email, phone, NPI) – for program-related inquiries
From the First Coast web portal signup and usage:
• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• Provider Transaction Access N
umber (PTAN)
• Submitter data (First name, last name, date of birth, Social Security Number, valid email address)
• Legal business name
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Any pertinent claim data
• Transaction specific data, for processing and reporting purposes
• Web analytics -- for performance and generic new/returning User usage metrics
• Surveys -- user satisfaction feedback for site enhancements
• Opt Out Options
Portal sign-up and usage have required data fields that must be completed for you to be properly authenticated for access. Without this information, First Coast cannot establish your user account for the provider portal.
For provider enrollment gateway usage
• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Date of birth
• Legal business name
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Email address
Provider enrollment gateway usage has required data fields that must be completed for you to upload or check the status of an enrollment application. Without this information, First Coast cannot process your provider enrollment request or status inquiry.
For reopenings gateway usage
• Health Insurance Claim Number (HIC) – for reopenings gateway
• Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) – for reopenings
• Internal Control Number (ICN) – for reopenings
• Correspondence Control Number (CCN) – for reopenings
• Date of service
• Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN)
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
Reopenings gateway usage has required data fields that must be completed for you to process or check the status of a claim reopening. Without this information, First Coast cannot process your reopenings request or status inquiry.
• Name
• Email address
• State/Territory where you reside
• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• Center registration usage has required data fields that must be completed for you to register and attend educational events. Without this information, First Coast cannot register you for educational events.
• Name
• Email address
MYCEUCertificate Gateway usage has required data fields that must be completed by you to authenticate, search completed training events and generate training certificates. Without this information, First Coast cannot authenticate you and generate CEU certificates.
When you visit any website, its server(s) may generate a piece of text known as a "cookie" to place on your computer. The cookie allows the server(s) to "remember" specific information about your visit while you are connected. The cookie makes it easier for you to use the dynamic features of web pages. Requests to send cookies from First Coast’s web pages are designed to collect information about your browser session only; they do not collect personal information about you.
There are two types of cookies: “Temporary session cookies” (single session) and “persistent cookies” (multi-session). Temporary session cookies will last only if your web browser is open. Once you close your browser, the temporary session cookie will disappear. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer for longer periods.
First Coast uses temporary session cookies for technical purposes such as improving navigation through its site and in the First Coast portal. These cookies let First Coast’s server(s) know that you are continuing your visit. The temporary cookie is not permanently stored on your computer. The cookie and the information about your visit are automatically deleted shortly after you close your browser to end the session.
First Coast’s use of session cookies is defined as “Usage Tier 1 -- Single Session.” The policy says, “This tier encompasses any use of single session web measurement and customization technologies.”
First Coast uses persistent cookies to help it recognize new and returning visitors to its provider websites and portal. Persistent cookies remain on your computer between visits to the First Coast provider websites until they expire. First Coast does not use this technology to identify you or any other individual site visitor.
First Coast’s feedback survey tool uses persistent cookies to block repeated invitations to take the Results survey. First Coast also uses persistent cookies to enable its web analytics program to measure how new and returning visitors use its provider websites over time.
First Coast’s use of session cookies is defined as “Usage Tier 2 -- Multi-session without Personally Identifiable Information (PII).” The policy says, “This tier encompasses any use of multi-session web measurement and customization technologies when no PII is collected.”
If you do not wish to have temporary or persistent cookies placed on your computer, you may disable them using your web browser. If you decide to “opt out” of cookies, you will still have access to all information and resources the First Coast websites and web portal. However, by disabling the cookies, it could impact your experience using the First Coast portal.
You can easily remove any cookies that have been created in the cookie folder of the most popular Internet browsers. Simply click the “Help” function on your browser and enter “cookies” to search for information on how to remove all or individual cookies.
Personal information is required for access to the provider web portal, provider enrollment gateway, reopenings gateway, Learning Center registration and MyCEUCertificate gateway. First Coast will safeguard the personal information you provide as required by CMS and in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. Section 552a).
You do not have to give First Coast personal information to visit other parts of the First Coast provider websites.
If you choose to provide First Coast with additional information about yourself through an email message, form, survey, et al., First Coast maintains the information only if needed to respond to your question or to fulfill the stated purpose of the communication.
First Coast retains the data from the web analytics tool and feedback survey results only if required by law or needed to support the mission of the First Coast provider websites.
Personal information entered for the provider web portal will be maintained on the “My Profile” page after access has been granted in the Identity Management (IDM) system. Personal information may be corrected by you on this page after you have signed in to IDM. If a Social Security number is incorrect, you must recreate a new profile.
First Coast retains the data in the provider web portal and does not dispose of the data unless required by law.
Personal information entered for the provider enrollment and reopenings gateways is used to verify personal information already maintained by First Coast. Personal information cannot be corrected in the provider enrollment and reopenings gateways; however, you can update personal information by submitting an updated enrollment application or claim.
Personal information entered in the Learning Center registration is used to register you for educational events and to provide training certificates. Personal information cannot be updated after submission in the Learning Center. You must resubmit the registration to correct any personal information. Personal information cannot be updated in the MyCEUCertificate gateway and must match the Learning Center registration details.
First Coast will endeavor to protect the personal information you share within its systems. First Coast, like many businesses, sometimes hire other companies or use affiliate companies to perform certain business-related functions. When First Coast hires another company or affiliate to perform a business function, First Coast provides it with the information needed to perform the specific function, which may include PII collected for the tools and applications described in this Privacy Policy. First Coast does not routinely disclose, give, sell, or transfer any personal information about its visitors, unless required by law enforcement or by statute. However, aggregate information may be shared as follows:
• Statistics will be furnished to CMS and used internally by Medicare staff to monitor performance requirements. These statistics do not include any personal information.
• First Coast will make every attempt to protect any personal information you furnish through an email message, form, survey, et. al. You should be aware that email is not secured against interception and you should therefore take special care in deciding what information you send to us via e-mail. Personal claims or medical information should never be sent to First Coast through email.
• The use and disclosure of your personal information for the provider web portal, provider enrollment gateway and reopenings gateway is authorized by Sections 1842, 1862 (b) and 1874 of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (The Act) (42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1395u, 1395y (b), and 1395kk).
This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date stated at the top of this Privacy Policy. First Coast may change this Privacy Policy from time to time and will post any changes on the Site as soon as they go into effect. By accessing the Site or using the Services after we make any such changes to this Privacy Policy, you are deemed to have accepted such changes. Please refer back to this Privacy Policy on a regular basis.
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, First Coast and IDM use software programs to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage. In the event of authorized law enforcement investigations, and pursuant to any required legal process, information from these sources may be used to help identify an individual.
The point of contact for any questions, concerns or to report a known or suspected violation is:
Jon West
Privacy Officer
GuideWell Source
Parent company of First Coast Service Options Inc. and Novitas Solutions, Inc.
532 Riverside Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32202
Email: Privacy.Officer@guidewellsource.com
First Coast Service Options (First Coast) strives to ensure that the information available on our provider website is accurate, detailed, and current. Therefore, this is a dynamic site and its content changes daily. It is best to access the site to ensure you have the most current information rather than printing articles or forms that may become obsolete without notice.