Information for Students

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  • Health Services is located at 16 Merrill Street, next to the Merrill Place residence hall.
  • Incoming students are required to have certain immunizations and a physical within the past year. Please login to your Medicat patient portal for detailed information and instructions. Please note that your username and login are the same as your MyPlymouth account.
  • We offer treatment for illness and injuries, reproductive health care; sexually transmitted infection testing; continuation of care for post injuries/surgeries, sports clearances, and provide continuation of care for numerous chronic conditions. We also work closely with the Plymouth State University Counseling Center on behavioral health care referrals and psychopharmacological medication.
  • If you would like Health Services to provide care for an existing condition, please call to be certain we have the means to provide necessary care. You should bring a four-week supply of your current medication, and schedule an appointment when you arrive on campus. We will need notes from your current medical provider regarding the condition. You may bring them to the appointment or have them faxed to Health Services at 603-535-3291. Please allow for up to four weeks for the transfer of records.
  • Health Service visits are free for full-time students as part of the health fee paid in tuition. There are additional charges for some supplies and in-clinic testing. We will ask for insurance information for tests sent to the lab at Speare Memorial Hospital.
  • PSU does not require student health insurance; however, we strongly suggest you check with your current insurance carrier to see whether or not you are covered in this area for hospitalization, testing, or urgent care visits. The local hospital is Speare Memorial Hospital. We use their lab for all testing. There is also an urgent care facility MedCheck Urgent Care, located less than two miles from campus offering off-hours care.
  • PSU does not offer an individual student health insurance plan for purchase. Students should remain on their current family health service plan or seek coverage in the open market.
  • Health Services is open for appointments Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 am until 3:00 p.m. We close weekends, spring, summer and winter breaks, and for lunch from 12-1 p.m. daily. Our staff consists of contracted medical staff from Speare Memorial Hospital and includes; medical doctors, physician assistants, APRNs, a registered nurse, a medical assistant, and a receptionist.
  • We urge students to call ahead for an appointment that fits their course schedule. Appointments will have priority; but we will accept walk-ins if there are openings. Health Services does not issue excuse notes for class absences. Patients are responsible for notifying their professors of absences.
  • If you have a complicated medical condition that requires continued care, please research providers in this area or contact Health Services at 603-535-2350.
  • If you have questions or need additional information, please leave a message at 603-535-2350 and we will get back to you shortly.  

Health Forms are located on the Medicat patient portal: psu.medicatconnect.com

Effective January, 2019, all  incoming students are required to have the below immunizations along with a physical from a medical provider prior to the start of the semester. Please obtain a current copy of your immunizations from your medical provider, school nurse, etc. and follow the instructions on the Medicat patient portal to upload a copy for our review.

  • MMR: One of the following required – * 2 doses of MMR or * 2 doses of Measles, 2 doses of Mumps and 1 dose of Rubella. *Positive titers (must include a copy of the lab work).
  • Varicella (chicken pox): One of the following required – * 2 doses of varicella, or * History of illness (must provide a date of the illness). *Positive titer (must include a copy of the lab work).
  • Tdap: * Documentation of a Tdap in the last 10 years.
  • Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine: * One dose given at age 16 or older.
  • Tuberculosis Skin Test (PPD): Only required if you are at high risk. Please complete the form in the Medicat patient portal to see if you are at high risk.
  • Hepatitis B (Recommended but not Required): One of the following recommended – * 3 doses of Hepatitis B, or *Positive titer (must include a copy of the lab work).

What Does My Health Fee Cover?

The cost of a visit is covered under every student’s mandatory health fee. Types of visits may include (but are not limited to):

  • medical evaluation for illness and sports injuries
  • Gynecological evaluations and exams
  • follow up care
  • health education
  • counseling referrals
  • in-house rapid tests for strep, mono, urine dip, or pregnancy tests
  • Flu vaccine

What Isn’t Covered by my Health Fee?

  • Pap smears
  • STD testing
  • blood work, urine cultures, and other lab work ordered by providers
  • air casts and crutches and some other medical supplies
  • prescription medications
  • X-rays
  • Vaccines
  • Mantoux testing

Health Services makes every effort to keep costs to a minimum. If charges other than those covered by the health fee are incurred, they will be added to the student’s bill in Student Financial Services. Student bills are accessible online through myPlymouth.

Emergencies

In the event that a student needs medical care in the evening, on weekends, or during vacation, they should contact their physician or Speare Memorial Hospital at (603) 536-1120. Transportation by ambulance can be accessed by dialing 911. Non-emergency transportation is available by taxi. These situations are the financial responsibility of the student.

Due to the chance that emergency care may be necessary, or other care beyond the scope of service at the Health Services clinic, students are strongly encouraged to maintain personal health insurance coverage while attending Plymouth State University.

Insurance Payments

In the event that the personal health insurance carried by the student does not cover or refuses payment for lab work, testing, ambulance, ER visits, or prescriptions ordered, the uncovered costs will be the responsibility of the student.

We strongly encourage students and parents to discuss with your insurance company the scope of their coverage as it pertains to the student while they attend Plymouth State.

Information regarding health insurance and the Affordable Care Act may be found at HealthCare.gov.

General Prescription Refill Information

Providers at Health Services are able to fill prescriptions for students who have been seen at the clinic. This is usually done during an appointment. If you need a refill for a medication prescribed by Health Services, please call a couple days before you run out to inquire if an appointment is necessary.

Please plan accordingly for refills as the clinic is closed evening, weekends, holidays and all school breaks.

If you are seeking refills for a medication prescribed elsewhere, you will be required to make an appointment and may need to provide documentation from the prescribing provider. Please call the clinic (603-535-2350) if you have any questions.

Behavioral Health Medication

Information for students who intend to use PSU Health Services to obtain medication for behavioral health conditions such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc.

FOR CONTINUATION OF CARE OF EXISTING DIAGNOSIS:

  • Records from the prescribing practitioner with requests from them that we prescribe your medication while you are a student at PSU.
  • Psychiatric/psychological interview (when available) including childhood symptoms and cognitive testing when applicable (i.e. memory, IQ, or attention tests).
  • An initial intake meeting with a PSU provider to discuss continuation of care.

FOR PATIENTS SEEKING CONSULTATION WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN DIAGNOSED:

  • Make an appointment with the Counseling Center at (603) 535-2461 for evaluation.
  • Individuals who are recommended for medication will be scheduled to meet with a prescribing provider at Health Services.

General Notes for all Behavioral Health RX

  • Appointments can be made with Health Services by calling (603) 535-2350.
  • The initial intake meeting takes 45 minutes during which the provider will discuss your specific situation and decide on a plan of care.
  • A once per semester check is required with the provider.
  • All documentation must be received before initial appointments can be made.
  • Visits to Health Services are covered under the Health Fee. Should you choose to use another provider in the community, you should check with your Insurance company for a list of covered practitioners.
  • Support services are available from the Counseling Center.

Medical records are kept for a period of seven years. If you need copies of your student medical records forwarded to another location or sent to us, you will need to grant permission to release/receive your records. You may also come in during business hours to sign the records release form. You will need to specify the name, address, and fax number for the individual or office the information will be sent to.

Release of Information Form

Notice of Confidentiality

All of your visits to Health Services are kept strictly confidential. Health Services has a legal and ethical responsibility to safeguard the privacy of all patients and to protect the confidentiality of their health information.

The University does not waive your student health fee; and this fee does not replace health insurance. It covers the cost of your visits to the Student Health Services clinic as well as services at the Plymouth State University Counseling Center on campus. Patients or their personal health insurance will be charged by Speare Hospital for outside services such as lab tests, X-ray, etc.

The following is a list of some charges which may be incurred at Health Services but are not covered by the Health Fee. We will discuss these fees with patients prior to service.

Tests performed at Health Services and sent to Speare Memorial Hospital Lab (these may be billed to your MyPlymouth account):

  • Affirm
  • GC/Chlamydia
  • Herpes Simplex Virus Types I & II
  • HPV
  • RPR
  • HIV
  • Vaginal Culture
  • PAP
  • Triage (13 drug toxicity screen)

Other items and materials that are charged by Health Services (these items will be billed to your MyPlymouth account):

  • Mantoux Testing
  • TDap Injections
  • Various vaccinations
  • Unreturned crutches
  • Various medications for treatment
  • Allergy syringes for semester

Billing Process

  1. A current list of charges is available at Student Health Services. We will discuss charges with patients prior to providing service.
  2. Fees are added to your Student Financial Services bill and will not indicate what tests were done. You will need to check your account online.
  3. You may request an itemized bill indicating what tests have been done.

New Hampshire law allows students to remain on their parents insurance policy up to age 26. Students with a primary residence outside of New Hampshire should check with their agent or insurance company to review applicable state laws.

Students who are unable to secure coverage through family or employment policies should contact the Financial Aid Team to discuss accessing additional student loans to cover the cost of health insurance premiums. Documentation of premium costs will be needed from the insurance carrier to use this benefit.

Privacy Practices

Please Note: These practices follow many of the privacy rules found in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its applicable regulations. Plymouth State Health Services is not a covered entity under HIPAA and, therefore, is not legally bound by this specific legislation. We have chosen to adopt many of the privacy practices advocated under HIPAA as an extension of our commitment to protect the confidentiality of your health information. These practices should not be interpreted as creating contractual rights and Plymouth State University reserves the right to make changes in these practices at any time without prior notice.

  1. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. Plymouth State Health Services is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This “protected health information,” or “PHI” includes information that we’ve recorded or received about your past, present, or future health or condition, the provision of healthcare to you, or the payment for this health care that can be used to identify you. We provide you with this notice about our privacy practices to explain how, when, and why we use and disclose your PHI.

    We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and our privacy policies at any time. Any changes will apply to the PHI we already have. Before we make an important change to our policies, we will promptly change this notice and post a new one. You may also request a copy of this notice from our main reception area.

  2. How we may use and disclose your protected health information Plymouth State Health Services may use and disclose health information for many different reasons. Below, we describe the different categories of our uses and disclosures and give you some examples of each category.

Uses and Disclosures Relating to Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations

Plymouth State Health Services may use and disclose your PHI for the following reasons:

  1. For Treatment. We may disclose your PHI to physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care personnel who provide you with healthcare services or are involved in your care. For example, if you are being treated for a complicated medical condition and a nurse practitioner would like to consult a physician in order to coordinate your care.
  2. To obtain payment for treatment. We may use and disclose your PHI in order to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided to you. For example, we may provide portions of your PHI to our billing department and your health plan to get paid for health care services we provided to you.
  3. For health care operations. We may disclose your PHI in order to operate this health services. For example, we may use your PHI in order to evaluate the quality of health care services that you received or to evaluate the performance of the health care professionals who provided health care services to you. We may also provide your PHI to our attorneys, consultants and others in order to make sure we’re complying with the laws that affect us.
  4. Emergency treatment. We may disclose your PHI to others without your consent in certain situations. For example, your consent isn’t required if you need emergency treatment, as long as we try to get your consent after treatment or we try to get consent but you are unable to communicate with us (for example, if you are unconscious or in severe pain) and we think you would consent if you were able to do so.

Certain uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Consent

We may use and disclose your PHI without your consent or authorization for the following reasons:

  1. When a disclosure is required by federal, state or local law judicial or administrative proceedings, or law enforcement. For example, we make disclosures when a law requires that we report information to government agencies and law enforcement personnel about victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; when dealing with gunshot and other wounds; or when ordered in a judicial or administrative proceeding.
  2. For public health activities. For example, we must report information about various diseases, to government officials in charge of collecting that information. This is particularly true of certain communicable diseases.
  3. For health oversight activities. For example, we will provide information to assist the government or an accreditation association when it conducts an investigation or inspection of a health care provider or organization.
  4. For research purposes. Certain limited uses and disclosures of PHI may occur for research proposes subject to approval by the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).
  5. To avoid harm. In order to avoid a serious threat to the health or safety of a person or the public, we may provide PHI to law enforcement personnel or persons able to prevent or lessen such harm.
  6. For workers’ compensation purposes. We may provide PHI in order to comply with worker’s compensation laws.
  7. Appointment reminders and health-related benefits or services. We may use PHI to provide appointment reminders or give you information about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits we offer.

All Other Uses and Disclosures Require Your Prior Written Authorization

In any other situation not described in section II, A and B above, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing any of your PHI. Health Services staff will not share any information regarding your health care with your parents or guardians without your written permission.

What rights you have regarding PHI

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You have the right to ask that we limit how we use and disclose your PHI. We will consider your request but are not legally required to accept it. If we accept your request, we will put any limits in writing and abide by them except in emergency situations. You may not limit the uses and disclosures that we are legally required or allowed to make.

You have the right to ask that we send information to you at an alternate address (for example, sending information to your campus address rather than your home address) or by alternate means (for example, e-mail instead of regular mail). We will agree to your request so long as we can easily provide it in the format you requested.

In most cases, you have the right to look at or get copies of your PHI that we have, but you must make the request in writing. There may be a charge associated with copies provided. We will respond to you within 30 days after receiving your written request.

You have the right to get a list of instances in which we may have disclosed your PHI. The list will not include uses or disclosures that you have already consented to, such as those made for treatment, payment, or health care operations, directly to you. The list also won’t include uses and disclosures made for the national security purposes or to corrections or law enforcement personnel, or before the effective date of this notice.

If you believe that there is a mistake on your PHI or that a piece of information is missing, you have the right to request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. You must provide the request and your reason for the request in writing. We will respond within 60 days of receiving your request. We may deny your request in writing if the PHI is:

  1. correct and complete,
  2. not created by us,
  3. not allowed to be disclosed, or
  4. not part of our records

Our written denial will state the reasons for the denial and explain your right to file a written statement of disagreement with the denial. If you don’t file one, you have the right to request that your request and our denial be attached to all future disclosures of your PHI. If we approve your request, we will make the change to your PHI, tell you that we have done it and tell others that need to know about the change to your PHI.

You have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. Even if you have agreed to receive notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of this notice.

Who to contact for information about this notice or to file complaints/concerns about our privacy practices

If you have any questions about this notice or any complaints/concerns about our privacy practices, please contact:

Plymouth State University Health Services, MSC 45

12 Merrill Street

Plymouth, NH 03264

Phone: (603) 535-2350

Effective date of this notice

This notice went into effect in January of 2019.