Privacy Policy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a federal program that requires strict confidentiality for all your personal health information. That includes all your medical information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronic, written or verbal. The Act gives you significant rights to understand and control how your health information is used. The Act also provides penalties for the misuse of Protected Health Information (PHI).

PHI is any information about you, including demographic data that identifies you and your past, present or future physical or mental health condition, as well as related healthcare services. This Privacy Policy describes how we may use or disclose your PHI to provide treatment, payment or healthcare operations or other purposes that are permitted or required by law. This policy also describes your rights to access and control your PHI.

We may use or disclose your PHI under the following circumstances without your authorization. These include, as required by law:

  • public health issues

  • communicable diseases

  • health oversight

  • abuse or neglect

  • food and Drug Administration requirements

  • legal proceedings

  • law enforcement

  • coroners, funeral directors and organ donation

  • medical research

  • criminal activity; prison inmates

  • military activity and national security

  • workers’ compensation

Required Uses and Disclosures: The law requires us to disclose to you if we are investigated by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to determine my compliance with HIPAA. 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 this authorization in writing at any time except to the extent that your physician or the physician’s practice has taken action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in your authorization.

Your Rights

You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records:

  • psychotherapy notes

  • information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in civil, criminal or administrative actions or proceedings

  • PHI that is subject to law prohibiting access to said PHI

You have the right to request a restriction of your health information. This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your PHI for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request nondisclosure of any part of your PHI to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes described in these Privacy Practices. Your request must state the specific restriction and to whom you want the restriction to apply.

You have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice from us, upon request.

We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and will inform you of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this notice.

Complaints:

You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint by notifying us at the main telephone number. We will not retaliate against you for exercising your right to file a complaint.

This notice was published and is effective on or before 10/4/2019.