To The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
We may disclose your health information to HHS, the government agency responsible for overseeing compliance with federal privacy law and regulations regulating the privacy and security of health information.
For Research
We may use or disclose your health information for research, subject to conditions “Research” means systemic investigation designed to contribute lo generalized knowledge.
In Connection With Your Death or Organ Donation
We may disclose your health information to a coroner for dentitication purposes, to a funeral director for funeral purposes. or to an organ procurement organization to facilitate transplantation of one of your organs.
If applicable State law does not permit the disclosure described above, we will comply with the stricter State law.
Authorization to Use or Disclose
Health Information
We are required to obtain your written authorization in the following circumstances: (a) to use or disclose psychotherapy notes (except when needed tor payment purposes or to defend against litigation filed by you), (b) to use your PHT for marketing purposes: (c) to sell your PHT, and (d) to use ot disclose your PHI for any purpose not previously described in this Notice. We also will obtain your authorization before using or disclosing your PHI when required to do so by (a) state law, such as laws restricting the use or disclosure of genetic information of information concerning HIV status, or (b) other federal law, such as federal taw protecting the confidentiality of substance abuse records. You may revoke that authorization in writing at any time.
PATIENT RIGHTS
You have the following rights related to your health information.
Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on the use of disclosure of your health information for treatment, payment. or healthcare operations in addition to the ristrictions imposed by federal law. Our office is not required to agree lo your request. unless (a) you request that we not disclose your PHI to a health insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid for payment or healthcare operations purposes: (b) you, or someone on your behalf, has paid us in full for the healthcare item or service to which the PHI pertains, and (c) we are not required by law to disclose to the insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid the PHI that is the subject of your request, but we will endeavor to honor reasonable requests. We generally are not required to agree to a requested restriction. Our office will honor your request that we not disclose your health information to a health plan for payment or healthcare operation purposes if the health information relates solely to a healtheare item or service for which vou have paid us out-of-pocket in full.
Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at an altenative location You may, for example, request thal we Communicate your health information only privately with no other family members present of through mailed communications that are scaled We will honer your reasonable requests for confidential Communications.
Inspect and Copy Your Health Information
You have the right to read, review, and copy your health informatian, including your complete chart, x-rays and billing records If you would lke a copy ot your health information. please let us know. We may need to charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee to duplicate and assemble your copy. If there will be a charge, we will first contact you to determine whether you wish to modity or withdraw your request.
Amend Your Health Information
You have the right to ask us to update or modify your records if you believe your health information records are incorrect or incomplete. We will be happy to accommodate you as lang as our office maintains this information. In order to standardize our process. please provide us with your request in writing and describe the information to be changed and your reason for the change.
Your request may be denied if the health information record in question way not created by our office, is not part of our records or if the records containing your health information are determined to be accurate and complete If we deny your request, we will provide you with a wotten explanation of the denial.
Accounting of Disclosures of Your
Health Information
You have the right to ask us for a description of how and where your health information was disclosed. Our documentation procedures will enable us to provide information on health information disclosures that we are required to disclose to you. Please let us Know in writing the time period for which you are interested. Thank you for limiting your request to no more than six years at a time. We will provide the first accounting during any 12-month period without charge. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for each additional accounting dunng the same |2-month penod If there will be a charge, the Privacy Official will first contact you to determine whether you wish to modify or withdraw your request.
Request a Paper Copy of this Notice
You have the right to obtain a copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices directly from our office at any time Stop by or give us a call and we will mail or email a copy to you.
Receive Notice of a Security Breach
You have the right to receive notification of a breach of your unsecured health information.
Changes to the Notice
We are required by law fo maintain the privacy of vour health information and to provide to you of your personal representative with this Notice of our Privacy Practices. We are required to practice the policies and procedures described in this notice but we do reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice. If we change our privacy practices we will be sure all of our patients receive a copy of the revised Notice .
Complaints
You have the right to express complaints to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been compromised. We encourage you to express any concerns you may have regarding the privacy of your information. We will not retaliate against you for submitting a complaint, Please let us know of your concems or complaints in writing by submitting your complaint to our Privacy Officer.