HIPPA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPPA”) is a Federal program that requests that all medical records and other individually identifiable information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronic, on paper, or orally are kept properly confidential. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.
This notice is required by federal law. Please review it carefully.
I. IT IS OUR LEGAL DUTY TO SAFEGUARD YOUR PROTECED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI).
By law, we are required to ensure that your Protected Health Information (PHI) is kept private and safe. We may use or disclose your protected health information (PHI) for certain health care operations purposes. We can only do so when the person or business requesting your PHI gives us a written request that includes certain promises regarding protecting the confidentiality of your PHI. To help clarify these terms, here are some definitions
- “PHI” refers to information in your health record and constitutes information created or noted by us that can be used to identify you. It contains data about your past, present, or future health or condition, the provision of health care services to you, or the payment for such health care.
- “Treatment” is when we provide information or consult with another health care provider who treats you. An example of treatment would be your family physician, physical therapist, or other designated health care provider.
- “Health Care Operations” is when we disclose your PHI to your health care provider with your signed authorization.
- “Use” applies only to activities within our office such as sharing, employing, applying, utilizing, examining, and analyzing information that identifies you.
- “Disclosure” applies to activities outside our office such as releasing, transferring or providing access to information about you to other parties.
- “Authorization” means written permission for specific uses or disclosures.
II. USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRING AUTHORIZATION
We may use or disclose PHI for purposes outside of treatment, payment, and health care operations when your appropriate authorization is obtained. In those instances when we are asked for such, we will obtain an authorization from you before releasing this information. We will also need you to obtain an authorization before releasing your records or treatment notes of any kind. You may revoke or modify any and all such authorization, however the revocation or modification is not effective until it is received in writing.
III. USES AND DISCLOSURES WITH NEITHER CONSENT NOR AUTHORIZATION
We may use or disclose PHI without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances:
Abuse of Senior/Child
In our professional capacity, whenever we have knowledge of/reasonably suspect/or observe a client/patient senior/child that has been the victim of abuse or neglect, we must immediately report such to the proper local authorities. Also, if we have knowledge of/reasonably suspect/or observe that mental suffering has been inflicted upon a senior/child, or that his/her emotional well-being is endangered in any other way, we may report such to the above authorities.
Updated: January 2020
