Privacy Policy

Federal regulations developed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) require that a notice of privacy regarding the use and disclosure of a patient’s Protected Health Information (PHI) be provided to describe how the practice may use and disclose the patient’s Protected Health Information, your rights, and your access to your Protected Health Information and the duties of the practice in regards to a patient’s Protected Health Information

Protected Health Information (PHI):

Protected Health Information is information created or received by your healthcare provider that contains information that may be used to identify you. It is information that relates to the patient’s past, present, or future state of health, the provisions of healthcare to the patient, and the patient’s past, present, and future payments for healthcare.

The use and disclosure of Protected Health Information:

HIPAA requires that all organizations and individuals which maintain PHI or have access to PHI take several security measures to ensure that your information remain private and only used by those with your permission or in accordance with HIPAA guidelines for providing treatment or healthcare. An organization failing to abide by the guidelines may be fined heavily per incident for lack of compliance.

A patient’s PHI maybe used or disclosed in the course of providing treatment, obtaining payments for treatment, and conducting healthcare operations. Disclosure may be made in writing, electronically, by facsimile, and orally.

The patients PHI may also be used or disclosed in other circumstances such as if authorized by patient or a patient’s representative, or if local, state, or federal law require such disclosure within accordance of the HIPAA privacy regulations.

The practice may use or disclose the patient’s PHI in the course of providing or managing the patient’s healthcare as well as related services in order to coordinate with third parties for the purpose of providing treatment or healthcare.

Each patient is given a Patient Handbook which list a detailed privacy statement upon their initial admission to the facility.