Notice of HIPPA Privacy Practices
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) is a federal program that requires that all medical records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, are kept properly confidential. This Act gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used. “HIPAA” provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information.
As required by “HIPAA”, we have prepared this explanation of how we are to maintain the privacy of your health information and how we may use and disclose your health information for purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. “Protected health information” is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
Treatment: We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.
Payment: Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services, confirming coverage, billing or collection activities, and utilization review. For example, sending a bill for your visit to you or your insurance for payment.
Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as-needed, your protected health information in order to support the business activities of our practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, auditing functions, cost-management analysis, and customer service. For example, we may disclose your protected health information to other physicians and/or clinicians that see patients at our office. In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you.
We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization. These situations include: as Required by Law, Public Health issues as required by law, Communicable Diseases: Health Oversight: Abuse or Neglect: Food and Drug Administration requirements: Legal Proceedings: Law Enforcement: Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: Research: Criminal Activity: Military Activity and National Security: Workers’ Compensation: Inmates: Required Uses and Disclosures: Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of Section 164.500.
Any other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke such authorizations in writing and we are required to honor and abide by that written request, except to the extent that we have already taken actions relying on your authorization.
You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information, which you can exercise by presenting a written request to our office.
Your Rights: A statement of your rights with respect to your protected health information.
You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records; psychotherapy notes; information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, and protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information.
You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your protected health information, including those related to disclosures to family members, other relatives, close personal friends, or any other person identified by you. We are, however, not required to agree to a request restriction. If we do agree to a restriction, we must abide by it unless you agree in writing to remove it.
You have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location.
You may have the right to have your physician and/or clinician amend your protected health information.
You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your protected health information.
You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us, upon request, even if you agreed to accept this notice alternatively i.e. electronically.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.
This notice was published and becomes effective on/or before December 31, 2021.
We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and will inform you of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this notice.
Complaints: You have recourse if you feel that your privacy protections have been violated. You have the right to file a written complaint with our office or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, about violations of the provisions of this notice or the policies and procedures of our office. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
This notice was published and becomes effective on/or before December 31, 2021.