Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information (HIPAA)
Primary Uses & Disclosures of Your Health Information
My office staff and I are permitted by federal privacy laws to make uses and disclosures of your health information for purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations. Protected health information is the information we create and obtain in providing our services to you. The health information about you is documented in a medical record and on a computer. Such information may include documenting your symptoms, medical history, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and applying for future care or treatment. It also includes billing documents for those services.
Example of uses of your health information for treatment purposes:
- During the course of your treatment, the physician determines he/she will need to consult with another specialist in the area. He/she will share the information with such specialist and obtain his/her input.
Example of use of your health information for payment purposes:
- We submit requests for payment to your health insurance company. The health insurance company (or other business associate helping us obtain payment) requests health information from us regarding medical care given. We will provide information to them about you and the care given, which may include copies or excerpts of your medical record that are necessary for payment of your account. For example, a bill sent to your health insurance company may include information that identifies your diagnosis, and the procedures and supplies used.
- In the event you paid for services by credit card and a dispute arose over a transaction, we would submit to the bank the documents it requests. These might include your payment authorization form, a copy of the payment transaction, as well as a copy of the bill for the relevant dates of service and procedures.
Example of use of your health information for health care operations:
- We obtain services from our insurers or other business associates (an individual or entity under contract with us to perform or assist us in a function or activity that necessitates the use or disclosure of health information) such as quality assessment, quality improvement, outcome evaluation, protocol and clinical guidelines development, training programs, credentialing, medical transcription, medical review, legal services, and insurance. We will share health information about you with our insurers or other business associates as necessary to obtain these services. We require our insurers and other business associates to protect the confidentiality of your health information.
