What Is This Notice and Why Is It Important?

This notice is required by law and describes policies which conform to federal and state laws, designed to safeguard and protect your privacy.  The following describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can obtain access to this information.  Please read it carefully.

Your Rights

You have certain rights regarding your health and billing records, which include the right to:

• Request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information.

• Receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition and treatment.

• Inspect or copy your protected health information.

• Amend or submit corrections to your protected health information.

• Receive accounting of how and to whom your protected health information has been disclosed

• Receive a copy of this notice.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and provide you with this notice of privacy practices.

We are also required to establish policies and procedures that govern our workforce and business associates, and abide by the terms of this notice.

Treatment: Your health information may be used by staff members or disclosed to other health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions, and providing treatment.

Payment:  Your health information may be used to seek payment from your health plan or from credit card companies that you may use to pay for services, and from other sources of coverage.

Health Care Operations:  Your health information may be used to support the day-to-day business activities and management of our practice, such as calling you by name in the waiting room and contacting you for appointment reminders.  The practice utilizes a number of vendors in the conduct of business. These vendors may have access to PHI but must agree to abide by the confidentiality rules of HIPAA.

We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization: to help with public safety issues (such as preventing disease; helping with product recalls; reporting adverse reactions to medications; reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; and preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety); to do research; to comply with the law; to respond to organ donation and tissue donation requests; to work with a medical examiner or funeral director; to address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests; and to respond to lawsuits and legal actions.

Right to Revise Privacy Practices

This notice is effective as of October 11, 2020.  We reserve the right to amend or modify our privacy policies and practices.  Federal and state laws and regulations may require these changes.  Upon request, we will provide you with the most recently revised notice on any office visit.  The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information we maintain.

For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have any questions, would like additional information, or if you believe we have not properly protected your privacy, have violated your privacy rights, or disagree with a decision we have made about your rights, you should call the matter to our attention.  Please write us a letter describing the cause of your concern.  You may also contact the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.