A STEP AHEAD PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
(Effective April 14, 2003)
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
OUR LEGAL DUTY
We are required by applicable federal and state law to maintain the privacy of your health information. We are also required to give you this notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this notice
while it is in effect. This Notice takes effect April 14, 2003, and will remain in effect until we publish and issue a new one.
CHANGES TO THE NOTICE
We will abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and to make the new notice provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain. An updated version of the notice may be obtained from the Privacy Officer, whose contact information is provided at the end of this notice.
USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
We disclose health information about you for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. We also use this information for these purposes.
For Example:
Treatment: We may use your health information to provide occupational therapy services to you.
Payment: We may use and disclose medical information about you in order to receive payment from you for occupational therapy services rendered to you.
Appointment Reminders and Treatment Alternatives: We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders such as voicemail/text messages, postcards, or letters.
Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our healthcare operations.
Business Associates: We may use and disclose certain medical information about you to our business associates. A business associate is an individual or entity under contract with us to perform or assist us in performing a function or activity that requires us to disclose your health information to them.
To You, Your Family and Friends: We must disclose your health information to you, as described in the Information Rights section of this notice. We may disclose your health information to a family member, friend or other person to help with your healthcare or with payment for your healthcare, but only if you agree or do not object that we may do so, if you are not able to agree, if it is necessary in our professional judgment.
Persons Involved in Care: We may use or disclose health information to notify, or assist in the notification of (including identifying or locating) a family member, your personal representative or another person responsible for assisting you to obtain healthcare services. If you are present, then prior to use or disclosure of your health information, we will provide you with an opportunity to object to such uses or disclosures. In the event you be come incapacitated, or during an emergency, we may disclose your health information to others, including healthcare providers, on the basis of our professional judgment
Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law, including disclosure for use in judicial and administrative proceedings, or to law enforcement officials, or to the proper authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence or the possible victim of other crimes.
Public Health: We may use or disclose your health information in connection with public health activities, health oversight activities, and with worker’s compensation matters. We may also disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others.
National Security: We may disclose to military authorities the health information of Armed Forces personnel under certain circumstances. We may disclose to authorized federal officials health information required for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities. We may disclose protected health information to a correctional institution or law enforcement official having lawful custody of an inmate or patient.
State Laws: The laws of the state where you are receiving your occupational therapy services from us may provide greater rights to you.
Your Authorization: In addition to our use and disclosure of your health information for the purpose described above, you may give us written authorization to use your health information or to disclose it to anyone for any purpose
YOUR INFORMATION RIGHTS
Although all records concerning your services obtained from us are our property, you have the following rights concerning your information.
Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your information. We are not required to honor your request. We encourage you to make these requests in writing.
Right to Confidential Communications: You have the right to receive confidential communications of your information by alternative means or at alternative locations. We require that you make this request in writing.
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and copy your information in most circumstances. We require that you make this request in writing.
Right to Amend: You have the right to amend your health information in circumstances where you believe that information is inaccurate or incomplete. We require that you make this request in writing, and that you tell us why you believe that we should amend your information.
Right to an Accounting: You have the right to request and obtain an accounting of certain disclosures of your information.
Right to Obtain Copy: You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice upon request. A request to exercise any of these rights must be submitted to the Privacy Officer. Forms to help you make your request are available from the Privacy Officer.
QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to report such alleged violation to our office, and we will promptly investigate the matter. You may file a complaint with our office by contacting our privacy officer. We support your right of privacy and we will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint about our privacy practices. You may also contact the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
CONTACT
Anna Holley • 15454 Gale Ave. Suite F, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 • (626) 330-1538