YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
This notice applies to the information and records we have about your health, health status, and the health care and services you received at this office. Your health information may include information created and received by this office, it may be in the form of written or electronic records or spoken words, and it may include information about your health history, health status, symptoms, examinations, test results, diagnoses, treatments, procedures, prescriptions, related billing activity and similar types of health-related information.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
- On your first visit you can expect the following:.
- For Treatment – We may use health information about you to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose health information about you to doctors, nurses, technicians, office staff, or other personnel who are involved in taking care of you and your health.
- For payment – We may need to disclose health information about you in order to bill your health plan, the insurance company, or another third party for your treatment in this clinic.
- For Health Care Operations – We may use and disclose health information about you in order to manage the clinic and ensure that you and our other patients receive quality care. For example, we may use your health information to evaluate the performance of our staff in caring for you. We may also use health information about all or many of our patients to help us decided what additional services we should offer, how we can become more efficient, or whether certain treatments are effective for certain problems.
- Appointment Reminders – We may contact you to remind you of your appointment.
- Health-Related Services – We may tell you about our other health-related services that may interest you.
HOME HEALTH AGENCY STATEMENT OF PRIVACY RIGHTS
As a home health patient, you have the privacy rights listed below:
- You have the right to know why we need to ask you the questions.
- We are required by law to collect health information to make sure:
- You get quality health care and
- Payment for Medicare and Medicaid patient is correct.
- We are required by law to collect health information to make sure:
- You have the right to have your personal health care information kept confidential.
- 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.
- You have the right to refuse to answer questions.
- 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.
- You have the right to look at your personal health information.
- 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 Portabilty and Accountability Act)
Privacy Act of lndividual ldentiflable Health Information
Purpose:
To ensure that all workforce members are educated in reasonably safeguarding protected health information from any intentional use that result from discdosure 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 Diagnosis, 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 Departrment of Health. A visiting field employee has the right to his or her best judgment on whether to disclose a patient’s private information to an individual that requests it (i.e. family member, caretaker).
Safeguard Practices:
Assessments: Keep aassessments in a closed folder when not currently working on them. Do not leave on patient’s table unattended or in your car in the open.
Visit Reports: When not being written, all notes must be kept in a folder or envelope. Any notes with patient information that was written in error must be shredded or torn away that it would be impossible for reconstruction.
Notes: Any information wricten on a post-it or scratch paper must either be safeguarded or disposed of in the same manner as your visit reports.
Care Is Easier Than Ever!
We accept Medicare, Medicaid, HMO, PPO, and most private insurances. To find out if we accept your insurance, contact us today.
For more information, please contact our admissions office at (702) 893-3333