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VIRGINIA HOME MEDICAL NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
HIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT
YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS
TO THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
EFFECTIVE April 14, 2003
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
VIRGINIA HOME MEDICAL is dedicated to maintaining the
privacy of your identifiable health information. In conducting
our business, we will create records regarding you and the
treatment and services we provide you. We are required by
law to maintain the confidentiality of health information
that identifies you. We also are required by law to provide
you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
concerning your identifiable health information. By law, we
must follow the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices
that we have in effect at the time.
To summarize, this notice provides you with the following
information:
- How we may use and disclose your identifiable health information;
- Your privacy rights in your identifiable health information;
- Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your identifiable health information.
The terms of this notice apply to all records containing
your identifiable health information that are created or retained
by our organization. We reserve the right to revise or amend
our Notice of Privacy Practice. Any revision or amendment
to this notice will be effective for all of your records our
organization has created or maintained in the past, and for
any of your records we may create in the future.
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact
VIRGINIA HOME MEDICAL
We may use and disclose your information in the following
ways:
- Treatment. We may use your
identifiable information to provide supplies and services
to you. For example, we ask you to provide us with such
information as body weight, height , etc. Many of the people
who work for us may use or disclose your identifiable health
information in order to provide supplies and services to
you or to assist others in your treatment. Additionally,
we may disclose your identifiable health information to
others who may assist in your care, such as your physician,
therapists, spouse, children or parents.
- Payment. We may use and disclose
your identifiable health information in order to bill and
collect payment for the services and supplies you may receive
from us. For example, we may contact your health insurer
to certify that you are eligible for benefits (and for what
range of benefits), and we may provide your insurer with
details regarding your treatment to determine if your insurer
will cover, or pay for your supplies and/or services. We
may also use and disclose your identifiable health information
to obtain payment from third parties that may be responsible
for such costs, such as family members. Also, we may use
your identifiable health information to bill you directly
for services and supplies.
- Health Care Operations. We
may use and disclose your identifiable health information
to operate our business. As examples of the ways in which
we may use and disclose your health information for our
operations, we may use your health information to evaluate
the quality of care you receive from us, or to conduct cost-management
and business planning activities for our business.
- Appointment Reminders. We
may use and disclose your identifiable health information
to contact you and remind you of visits/deliveries.
- Health-Related Benefits and Services.
We may use your identifiable health information to inform
you of health-related benefits or services that may be of
interest to you.
- Release of Information to Family
/ Friends. We may release your identifiable health
information to a friend or family member that is helping
you pay for your health care, or who assists in taking care
of you.
- Disclosures Required By Law. We
will use and disclose your identifiable health information
when we are required to do so by federal, state or local
laws.
Use and Disclosure of Your Identifiable Health Information
in Certain Special Circumstances
The following categories describe unique scenarios in which
we may use or disclose your identifiable health information:
- Public Health Risk. We may
disclose your identifiable health information to public
health authorities that are authorized by law to collect
information for the purpose of:
- Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths;
- Reporting child abuse or neglect;
- Preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability;
- Notifying a person regarding a potential exposure
to a communicable disease;
- Notifying a person regarding a potential risk for
spreading or contracting a disease or condition;
- Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products
or devices;
- Notifying individuals if a product or device they
may be using has been recalled;
- Notifying appropriate government agency(ies) and authority(ies)
regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult
patient (including domestic violence); however, we will
only disclose this information if the patient agrees
or we are required or authorized by law to disclose
this information.
- Health Oversight Activities.
We may disclose your health information to a health oversight
agency for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities
can include, for example, investigations, inspections, audits,
surveys, licensure and disciplinary actions; civil, administrative,
and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities
necessary for the government to monitor government programs,
compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system
in general.
- Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information
in response to a court or administrative order, if you are
involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We also may
disclose your identifiable health in response to a discovery
request, subpoena, or other lawful process by another party
involved in a dispute, but only if we have made an effort
to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting
the information the party has requested.
- Law Enforcement. We may release
identifiable health information if asked to do so by a law
enforcement official:
- Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if
we are unable to obtain the person?s agreement;
- Concerning a death we believe might have resulted
from criminal conduct;
- Regarding criminal conduct in our offices;
- In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena,
or similar legal process;
- To identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive
or missing person;
- In an emergency, to report a crime (including the
location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description,
identity or location of the perpetrator).
- Serious Threats to Health or Safety.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information
when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to
your health and safety or the health and safety of another
individual or the public. Under these circumstances, we
will only make disclosures to a person or organization able
to help prevent the threat.
- Military. We may disclose
your identifiable health information if you are a member
of U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans)
and if required by the appropriate military command facilities.
- National Security. We may
disclose your identifiable health information to federal
officials for intelligence and national security activities
authorized by law. We also may disclose your identifiable
health information to federal officials in order to protect
the President, other officials or foreign heads of state,
or to conduct investigations.
- Inmates. We may disclose
your identifiable health information to correctional institutions
or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under
the custody of a law enforcement official. Disclosure for
these purposes would be necessary: (a) for the institution
to provide health care services to you, (b) for the safety
and security of the institution, and/or (c) to protect your
health and safety or the health and safety of other individuals.
- Workers? Compensation. We
may release your identifiable health information for workers?
compensation and similar programs.
- Coroners, Medical Examiners and
Funeral Directors. We may disclose health information
to a coroner or medical examiner. We may also disclose medical
information to funeral directors consistent with applicable
law to carry out their duties.
- Organ Procurement Organizations.
Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information
to organ procurement organizations or entities engaged in
the procurement, banking, or the transportation of organs
for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.
- Research. We may disclose
information to researchers when their research has been
approved by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board
that has reviewed the research proposal and established
protocols to ensure the privacy of your healthcare information.
Your Rights Regarding Your Identifiable Health
Information
- Confidential Communications.You have the right
to request that we communicate with you about your health
and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain
location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you
at home, rather than work. In order to request a type of
confidential communication, you must make a written request
to us, specifying the requested method of contact or location
where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate reasonable
requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
- Requesting Restrictions. You have the right to
request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your identifiable
health information for treatment, payment or health care
operations. Additionally, you have the right to request
we limit our disclosure of your identifiable health care
information to individuals involved in your care or the
payment for your care, such as family members and friends.
We are not required to agree to your request; however,
if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement except when
otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information
is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction
in our use or disclosure of your identifiable health information,
you must make your request in writing to us. Your request
must describe in clear and concise fashion: (a) the information
you wish restricted; (b) whether you are requesting to limit
our use, disclosure or both; and (c) to whom you want the
limits to apply.
- Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect
and obtain a copy of the identifiable health information
that may be used to make decisions about you, including
patient medical records and billing records, but not including
psychotherapy notes. You must submit your request in writing
to us in order to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your identifiable
health information. We may charge a fee for the costs of
copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with your
request. We may deny your request to inspect and/or copy
in certain limited circumstances; however, you may request
a review of our denial. Reviews will be conducted by another
licensed health care professional chosen by us.
- Amendment. You may ask us to amend your health
information if you believe it to be incorrect or incomplete,
and you may request an amendment for as long as the information
is kept by or for us. To request an amendment, your request
must be made in and submitted to us in writing. You must
provide us with a reason that supports your request for
amendment. We will deny your request if you fail to submit
your request (and the reason supporting your request) in
writing. Also, we may deny your request if you ask us to
amend information that is: (a) accurate and correct; (b)
not part of the identifiable health information kept by
or for us; (c) not part of the identifiable health information
which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; (d) not
created by us, unless the individual or entity that created
the information is not available to amend the information.
- Accounting of Disclosures. All of our patients
have the right to request an ?accounting of disclosures.?
An ?accounting of disclosures? is a list of certain disclosures
we have made of your identifiable health information. In
order to obtain an accounting of disclosures, you must submit
your request in writing to our office. All requests for
an ?accounting of disclosures? must state a time period
which may not be longer than six years and may not include
dates before April 14, 2003. The first list you request
within a 12 month period is free of charge, but we may charge
you for additional lists within the same 12 month period.
We will notify you of the cost involved with additional
requests, and you may withdraw your request before you incur
any costs.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You are entitled
to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices.
You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any
time. To obtain a paper copy of this notice, contact our
office.
- Right to File a Complaint. If you believe your
privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint
with us or with the Office of Civil Rights. All complaints
must be in writing. You will not be penalized for filing
a complaint.
- Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and
Disclosures. We will obtain your written authorization
for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this
notice or permitted by applicable law. Any authorization
you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your
identifiable health information may be revoked at any time
in writing. After you revoke your authorization,
we will no longer use or disclose your identifiable health
information for the reasons described in the authorization.
Please note, we are required to retain records of your care.
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