HIPAA
This Notice describes how your medical information may be used or disclosed and how you can gain access to it.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a federal program that requires strict confidentiality for all your personal health information. That includes all your medical and dental information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronic, written, or verbal. The Act gives you significant rights to understand and control how your health information is used. The Act also provides penalties for the misuse of Protected Health Information (PHI).
PHI is any information about you, including demographic data that identifies you and your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, as well as related healthcare services. This Privacy Policy describes how we may use or disclose your PHI to provide treatment, payment or healthcare operations, or other purposes that are permitted or required by law. This policy also describes your rights to access and control your PHI.
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
Your PHI may be used or disclosed by our physician, office staff, or others involved in your care and treatment, whether providing healthcare services to you, paying your healthcare bills, supporting the operation of our practice, or any other lawful use.Healthcare Operations
We may use or disclose your PHI to support our business activities. These activities may include quality assessment, employee review, and conducting or arranging other business activities. We may phone your home and leave a message (on an answering machine or with the person answering the phone) to call our office. Please tell us if you prefer that we call or contact you at another phone number or location. We may use or disclose your PHI under the following circumstances without your authorization. These include, as required by law:- Public health issues
- Communicable diseases
- Health oversight
- Abuse or neglect
- Food and Drug Administration requirements
- Legal proceedings
- Law enforcement
- Coroners, funeral directors, and organ donation
- Medical research
- Criminal activity; prison inmates
- Military activity and national security
- Workers’ compensation
Required Uses and Disclosures
The law requires us to disclose to you when we are investigated by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to determine our compliance with HIPAA. Other permitted and required uses and disclosures will be made only with your consent, authorization, or opportunity to object unless required by law. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time except to the extent that your physician or the physician’s practice has taken action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in your authorization.Payment
Your PHI will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for healthcare services.Your Rights
You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records:- Psychotherapy notes
- Information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in civil, criminal, or administrative actions or proceedings
- PHI that is subject to law prohibiting access to said PHI