HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION

EFFECTIVE MARCH 31,2019

On April 14,2003 the portions of the health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA) regarding the privacy of your health information went into effect. This low requires us to maintain the privacy of your health information, and to inform you about our privacy practices by providing you with this notice.

We maintain the right to change our privacy practices, as provided by low. Before we make a change, this notice will be amended to reflect the new change, and we will be make the new notice available upon request. We reserve the right to make any changes in our privacy practice. You may request a copy of our Privacy Notice at any time by contacting our privacy officer. Information on contacting us can be found at the end of this notice.

USES OF PROTECTED INFORMATION WITHIN OUR CLINIC 

We will maintain the privacy of your health information, using it only for the following purposes:

Treatment: We may use your health information to provide you with our professional services. This include sharing protected health information with your referring physician, and any other health professionals involved in your care, unless you specifically requesting writing that we do not communicate with them. It also includes communication with you by mail, telephone, or email.

Payment and Insurance: We may use and disclose your health information to seek payment for services we provide to you. This disclosure involves our business office staff. And may include insurance organizations, or other businesses that may become involved in the process of mailing statements, and /or collecting unpaid balances. If your treatment is being covered under a workman’s compensation claim, protected medical information may be revealed to your employer.

Emergencies: We may use or disclose your information to notify, or assist in the notification of a family member or anyone else responsible for your care. If at all possible we will provide you with an opportunity to object to this use or disclosure.

Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law, in the instance of court or administrative orders, subpoenas, discovery request, or other processes. We will use and disclose your information when requested by national security and other state and federal official and/or if you are an inmate under the custody of law enforcement.

Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, or the possible victim of other crimes. This information will only be disclosed to the extent necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety or that of others.

Appointment Reminders: We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders including voicemail messages, email, postcards, or letters.

Access: you have the right to inspect and copy your medical records. If you wish to read your medical records. You must sign a form acknowledging the inspection, and we ask that you provide us with two days’ advance notice. If you want a copy of your records, you must put your request in writing to our privacy officer whose contact information is listed below. You may also request access by sending us a letter to the addresses at the end of this notice.

Copy of Notice: you have the right to copy of this notice at any time as well as an explanation of any part of the notice that you do not understand. The notice can be mailed, faxed, or emailed upon your request We reserve the right to revise this notice at any time in the future. If this notice is revised, you will be informed of the change at your next office visit.

Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to receive a list of the disclosures we made of the medical information about you. You must submit your request in writing to our privacy officer. Your request should also indicate how you would like to receive the information. (USPS mail or email)

Restrictions: You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information. We do not have to agree to these additional requests. but if we do, we do abide by our agreement, except in an emergency situation. Please contact our privacy officer if you want to further restrict access to your health care information. This request must be submitted in writing.

Questions and complaints: You have the right to file a complaint with us if you feel we have not complied with our privacy policies. your complaint should be directed to our privacy officer. If you feel we may have your privacy rights or if you disagree with a decision, we made regarding access to your health information you can complain us in writing. We support your right to privacy. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.