Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
This Notice of Privacy Practices (Notice) describes how we may use within our practice or network and disclose (share outside of our practice or network) your PHI to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations. We may also
share your information for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. This Notice also describes your rights to access and control your PHI. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI. We will follow
the terms outlined in this Notice. We may change our Notice, at any time. Any changes will apply to all PHI. Upon your request, we will provide you with any revised Notice by:
Posting the new Notice in our office.If requested, making copies of the new Notice available in our office or by mail.If requested, making copies of the new Notice available in our office or by mail.
Posting the revised Notice on our website: orthoisfun.comWe may use or disclose (share) your PHI to provide health care treatment for you. Your PHI may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff, and others outside of our office that are involved in your care
and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you. EXAMPLE: Your PHI may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred for evaluation to ensure that the physician has the necessary
information to diagnose or treat you. We may also share your PHI from time-to-time to another physician or health care provider (e.g., a specialist or laboratory) who, at the request of your physician, becomes involved
in your care by providing assistance with your health care diagnosis or treatment to your physician. We may also share your PHI with people outside of our practice that may provide medical care for you such as home
health agencies. We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services. We may provide your PHI to others in order to bill or collect payment for services. There may be services for which we share information
with your health plan to determine if the service will be paid for. PHI may be shared with the following:
Billing companiesInsurance companies, health plansGovernment agencies in order to assist with qualification of benefitsCollection agencies EXAMPLE: You are seen at our practice for a procedure. We will need to provide a listing of services such as x-rays to your insurance company so that we can get paid for the procedure. We may at times contact your health care plan to receive approval PRIOR to performing certain procedures to ensure the services will be paid for. This will require sharing of your PHI. We may use or disclose, as-needed, your PHI in order to support the business activities of this practice which are called health care operations.
EXAMPLES:
Training students, other health care providers, or ancillary staff such as billing personnel to help them learn or improve their skills.Quality improvement processes which look at the delivery of health care and for improvement in processes which will provide safer, more effective care for you.Use of information to assist in resolving problems or complaints within the practice. We may use and disclose your PHI in other situations without your permission:
Public health activities: The disclosure will be made for the purpose of controlling disease, injury or disability and only may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or may be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition.Health oversight agencies: We may disclose protected health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections. Oversight agencies seeking this information include government agencies that oversee the healthcare system, government benefit programs, other government regulatory programs and civil rights laws.Legal proceedings: To assist in any legal proceedings or in response to a court order, in certain conditions in response to a subpoena, or other lawful processes.Police or other law enforcement purposes: The release of PHI will meet all applicable legal requirements for release.Coroners. funeral directors: We may disclose protected health information to a coroner or medical examiner for identification purposes, determining the cause of death or for the coroner or medical examiner to perform other duties authorized by law.Medical research: We may disclose your protected health information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your protected health information.Special government purposes: Information may be shared for national security purposes, or if you are a member of the military, to the military under limited circumstances.Correctional institutions: Information may be shared if you are an inmate or under the custody of law which is necessary for your health or the health and safety of other individuals.Workers’ Compensation: Your protected health information may be disclosed by us as authorized to comply with workers’ compensation laws and other similar legally-established programs. Other uses and disclosures of your health information.
Business Associates: Some services are provided through the use of contracted entities called “business associates”. We will always release only the minimum amount of PHI necessary so that the business associate can perform the identified services. We require the business associate(s) to appropriately safeguard your information. Examples of business associates include billing companies or transcription services.Health Information Exchange: We may make your health information available electronically to other healthcare providers outside of our facility who are involved in your care.Treatment alternatives: We may provide you notice of treatment options or other health-related services that may improve your overall health.Appointment reminders: We may contact you as a reminder about upcoming appointments or treatment. We may use or disclose your PHI in the following situations UNLESS you object.
We may share your information with friends or family members, or other persons directly identified by you at the level they are involved in your care or payment for services. If you are not present or able to agree/object, the healthcare provider using professional judgment will determine if it is in your best interest to share the information. For example, we may discuss post procedure instructions with the person who drove you to the facility unless you tell us specifically not to share the information.We may use or disclose protected health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative or any other person that is responsible for your care of your location, general condition or death.We may use or disclose your protected health information to an authorized public or private entity to assist in disaster relief efforts. The following uses and disclosures of PHI require your written authorization:
MarketingDisclosures of for any purposes which require the sale of your information All other uses and disclosures not recorded in this Notice will l require a written authorization from you or your personal representative.
Written authorization simply explains how you want your information used and disclosed. Your written authorization may be revoked at any time, in writing. Except to the extent that your doctor or this practice has used or released information based on the direction provided in the authorization, no further use or disclosure will occur.