Home Health Care

Home Health Care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient and just as effective care you can get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Get the quality care you deserve in the comfort of your home!

HOME HEALTH AGENCY STATEMENT OF PRIVACY RIGHTS

As a home health patient, you have the privacy rights listed below.

1. You have the right to know why we need to ask you the questions.
   1. We are required by law to collect health information to make sure:
      1. 1 You get quality health care and
      2. 1 Payment for Medicare and Medicaid patient is correct.
   2. You have the right to have your personal health care information kept confidential.
      1. 1 You may be asked to tell us information about yourself so that we will know which home health services will be best for you. We keep anything we learn about you confidential. This means, only those who are legally authorized to know, or who have medical need to know, will see your personal health information.
   3. You have the right to refuse to answer questions.
      1. 1 We may need your help in collecting your health information. If you chose not to answer, we will fill in the information the best way we can so that you do not have to answer every question to get our services.
   4. You have the right to look at your personal health information.
      1. 1 We know how important it is that the information we collect about you is correct. If you think we made a mistake, ask us to correct it. if you are not satisfied with our response, you can call the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Federal Medicare and Medicaid agency to correct your information.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Privacy Act of Individual Identifiable Health Information

Purpose:

To ensure that all workforce members are educated in reasonably safeguarding protected health information from any intentional use that result from disclosure to any unauthorized person or group. Effective date for compliance is April 14, 2003.

Definition of Protected Health Information:

Any and all personal information about a patient which includes, but not limited to: Name, Address, SS and HIC Numbers, Diagnoses, Treatment Plan, etc.

Permitted Disclosures:

Disclosure of information is permitted under certain circumstances. For example, disclosure is permitted to law enforcement officers investigating a crime, in case of medical emergencies or to any health official from the Department of Health. A visiting field employee has the right to his or her best judgement on whether to disclose a patient’s private information to an individual that requires it (i.e. family member, caretaker)