This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.
This notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment of health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health 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.
1. Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
Your protected health infor mation (PHI) 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 healthcare with any related health services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, we would disclose your PHI as necessary, to a durable medical equipment company that provides care to you. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.
Payment: Your PHI will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services; For example, obtaining approval for an overnight sleep study may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to obtain approval or authorization.
Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as needed, your PHI in order to support the business activities of your physician’s practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, licensing or conducting or arranging for other business activities. In addition, we may use a sign in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked o sign your name. 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 PHI, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment.
We may use or disclose your PHI in the following situations without your authorization. These situations include, as required by law, public health issues as required by law, communicable diseases, abuse or neglect, FDA requirements, legal proceedings, law enforcements, coroners, criminal activities, military activities and national security, and worker’s compensation. Under the law, we must make disclosures to your and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of section 164.500.
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 the authorization at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your physician’s practice has taken an action in reliance on the use of disclosure indicated in the authorization.