HIPAA Notice Of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

YOUR RIGHTS
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

You have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record. You may ask to see or obtain an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost‑based fee.

You have the right to ask us to correct your medical record. If you believe health information about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may request a correction. We may deny your request, but we will explain the reason in writing within 60 days.

You have the right to request confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or to send mail to a different address. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.

You have the right to ask us to limit what we use or share. You may request that we not use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to your request and may deny it if it would affect your care. If you pay for a service or health care item out of pocket in full, you may request that we not share that information with your health insurer for payment or operational purposes, unless required by law.

You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures of your health information made during the six years prior to your request, including who the information was shared with and why. This list will not include disclosures related to treatment, payment, health care operations, or other permitted exclusions. One accounting per year is provided at no cost; additional requests may be subject to a reasonable fee.

You have the right to obtain a copy of this privacy notice. You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

You have the right to choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that individual may exercise your rights and make decisions about your health information once we verify their authority.

You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You may contact our office using the information provided or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

YOUR CHOICES
For certain health information, you have choices about how we share your information. If you have a preference, please let us know and we will follow your instructions.

You may choose whether we share information with family members, close friends, or others involved in your care. You may also choose whether your information is shared in disaster relief situations or included in a hospital or facility directory.

If you are unable to express your preferences, such as in an emergency or if you are unconscious, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest or necessary to reduce a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

We will not share your information for marketing purposes, sell your information, or share most psychotherapy notes unless you provide written authorization.

We may contact you for fundraising purposes. You have the right to opt out of future fundraising communications.

OUR USES AND DISCLOSURES
We may use and share your health information for treatment. This includes sharing information with other health care professionals involved in your care.

We may use and share your information to run our organization. This includes activities such as quality improvement, practice operations, and contacting you when necessary.

We may use and share your information to bill for services and obtain payment from health plans or other responsible parties.

We may also use or share your information in ways required or permitted by law. These uses generally support public health and safety and include preventing disease, reporting adverse reactions to medications, assisting with recalls, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, and preventing serious threats to health or safety.

We may use or share your information for research purposes, in compliance with applicable laws.

We will share information when required to do so by federal or state law, including with the Department of Health and Human Services to demonstrate compliance with privacy regulations.

We may share information with organ procurement organizations for donation purposes.

We may share information with a medical examiner, coroner, or funeral director after death.

We may use or share information for workers’ compensation claims, law enforcement purposes, health oversight activities, and other government functions such as military or national security activities.

We may share information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, or other lawful process.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information. We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may compromise the privacy or security of your information.

We are required to follow the privacy practices described in this notice and provide you with a copy. We will not use or disclose your information in ways not described in this notice unless you authorize us in writing. You may revoke that authorization at any time by notifying us in writing.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We may change the terms of this notice, and those changes will apply to all health information we maintain. The revised notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
We do not market or sell personal health information. This notice is effective immediately.