This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. We call this information “protected health information” (PHI). We are required to protect the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI. This notice describes how we may use and disclose your PHI and certain rights you have with respect to your PHI.
Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment and Health Care Operations
HIPAA privacy rules permits us to use or disclose your PHI for the purposes of treatment, payment and health care operations, described in more detail below, without obtaining a specific written permission from you, known as an “authorization.”
FOR TREATMENT: We may use or disclose information (PHI) about you to coordinate your healthcare. We may consult with other health care providers who are involved in your health care. For example, information may be shared to create and carry out a plan for your treatment. FOR PAYMENT: We may use or disclose information to get payment for the health care services you receive. For example, we may provide PHI to bill your health plan for services provided to you.
FOR HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS: We may use or disclose information in performing business activities, which are called health care operations. Health care operations allow us to improve the quality of care we provide.
APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: We may send you reminders for medical services. We may send you information about health services that may be of interest to you.
Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made Without Your Authorization or Opportunity to Agree or Object
We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization or providing you the opportunity to agree or object. HIPAA Privacy Rule permits (or requires) us to use and disclose PHI without your written authorization under the circumstances described below: AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT We may use or disclose your protected health information to the extent that the use or disclosure is required by law. The use or disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law. You will be notified, if required by law, of any such uses or disclosures.
FOR ABUSE REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS: If we reasonably believe a patient has been a victim of abuse or neglect, we may disclose PHI as required by law.
FOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: We may use and disclose information for public benefits under other government programs. For example, we may disclose information for the determination of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.