NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES​

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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.

 

Under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), all medical records and other individually identifiable protected health information (PHI) of which we have knowledge must be kept confidential. All PHI used by us or disclosed by us is covered by this Act regardless of whether this PHI is in electronic, oral, or paper form. Several new rights are granted to patients under this Act, allowing control over how your PHI is used, how you can access it, and in some cases amend it.

 

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI. We may be assessed a penalty for any misuse or unauthorized disclosures of your personal health information as regulated by HIPAA.

 

This Notice of Privacy Practices is effective on ______April 14,2003_________________________. We are bound to abide by the terms of this notice and reserve the right to revise this policy. Should revisions be made, you will be notified in writing, and a copy of the revised policy will be made available at your request.

 

Should any breach of unsecured PHI ever occur, we will notify the patient(s) involved within 10 business days of discovery of this breach. You will be asked to sign a consent form authorizing us to use and disclose your personal health information only for the following purposes, as defined under the Act:

 

• Treatment means the provision, coordination, or management of health care and related services by one or more healthcare providers, including the coordination of management of health care by a healthcare provider with a third party; consultation between healthcare providers relating to a patient; or the referral of a patient for health care from one healthcare provider to another. An example of this would be a dentist referral to an orthodontist.

 

• Payment means obtaining reimbursement for the provision of health care; determinations of eligibility of coverage; billing; claims management; collection activities; justification of charges; and disclosure to consumer reporting agencies; protected health information relating to the collection of reimbursements (only certain information may be disclosed). An example of this would be submitting your bill for health care services to your insurance company.

 

• Health care operations are any activity related to covered functions in which we participate in the function of our offices, such as conducting quality assessment activities; protocol development; case management and care coordination; auditing functions; business management and general administrative activities, including implementation of this regulation; customer service evaluations; resolution of grievances; fundraising; and marketing for which an authorization is not required. An example of this would-be evaluation customer service given to patients.