HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 requires all physicians and health care facilities to provide patients with a notice describing how an individual’s medical information may be used and disclosed, and how a patient may obtain access to their personal health information. 

 

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.

 

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, or health care operations (TPO) and for purposes 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 (PHI): Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff, and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your health care bills, to support the operation of the physician's practice, and any other use required by law. 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, we would disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to a home health agency that provides care to you; OR your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has necessary information to diagnose or treat you.

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Payment: Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. For example, obtaining approval for a medical procedure may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to the health plan to establish medical necessity.                                                             ·

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Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as needed, your protected health information in order to conduct normal operations of the physician's practice. These activities include, but are not limited to:

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• Quality control

• Licensing

• Employee reviews

 

For example, 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 use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary to contact you for test results or to remind you of your appointment.

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We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situation without your authorization. These situations include: as Required By Law, Public Health Issues, Communicable Disease, 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 Law, we must make a disclosure to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirement of section 164.500.

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Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures will be made only with your consent, authorization, or opportunity to object unless required by law.

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You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your physician or the physician's practice has taken an action in relation to the use or disclosure Indicated in the authorization.

 

Your Rights Following is 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. You have the right to request a restriction of your Protected Health Information. This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your Protected Health Information for the purpose of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your protected health information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care of for notification purposes as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. Your request must state the specific restrictions, and whom they apply.

 

Your physician is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request If physician believes your restriction is unreasonable and it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information, your Protected Health Information will not be restricted. If you wish, you then have the right to use another Healthcare Professional.

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You have the right to request and receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at  an  alternative  location. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us, upon request, even if you have agreed to accept this notice alternatively, i.e., electronically or by fax (see below for details on how to obtain a paper copy).

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You may have the right to have your physician amend your Protected Health Information. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.

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You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your Protected Health Information.

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We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and will inform you by mail of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this   notice.

 

Complaints – you may complain to the U.S. Department of  Health and   Human Services, 200  Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, D.C. 20201,   if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us; OR you may file a complaint with us by notifying our HIPAA Privacy Officer. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

 

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of, and provide individuals with, this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to Protected Health Information. If you have any objections to this form, please ask to speak with our privacy officer.

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Please note that a copy of this policy is located at Comprehensive Medicine, PLLC’s headquarters as well as within our electronic medical record database, and can be provided (mailed) to you at your request. You can make this request by calling Comprehensive Medicine, PLLC’s main office phone at (585) 678-4115, or by requesting a copy of this notice from your Comprehensive Medicine provider.