Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.

 

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.

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Your Rights

 

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights.  This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

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Get a copy of health and claims records

You can ask to see or get a copy of your health and claims records and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.

 

We will provide a copy or a summary of your health and claims records, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

 

Ask us to correct health and claims records

You can ask us to correct your health and claims records if you think they are incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.

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We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

 

Request confidential communications

You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.

 

We will consider all reasonable requests, and must say “yes” if you tell us you would be in danger if we do not.

 

Ask us to limit what we use or share

You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations.

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We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.

 

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.

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We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

 

Get a copy of this privacy notice

You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

 

Choose someone to act for you

If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.

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We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

 

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information at the end of this notice.

 

You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.

 

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

 

Your Choices

 

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share.  If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us.  Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.  

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

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Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in payment for your care

 

Share information in a disaster relief situation

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
 

In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:

Marketing purposes

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Our Uses and Disclosures

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How do we typically use or share your health information?

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

 

Help manage the health care treatment you receive

We can use your health information and share it with professionals who are treating you.

Example: A doctor sends us information about your diagnosis and treatment plan so we can arrange

additional services.

 

Run our organization

We can use and disclose your information to run our organization and contact you when necessary.

Example: We use health information about you to develop better services for you.

 

Pay for your health services

We can use and disclose your health information as we pay for your health services.

Example: We share information about you with your health plan to coordinate payment for your medical

treatment.

 

How else can we use or share your health information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

 

Help with public health and safety issues

We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:

Preventing disease

Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence

Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

 

Do research

You don’t have to worry about this because Davis Stuart does not participate in any research activities.

 

Comply with the law

We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

 

Breach Notification Purposes

We are legally required to report when there has been unauthorized access or disclosure of your health information.

 

Business Associates

Any vendors we use with access to your health information are legally obligated to safeguard that information too.

 

Respond to law enforcement, and other government requests

We can use or share health information about you:

For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official-like subpoenas and court orders

With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law

For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services

 

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

 

Our Responsibilities

 

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.

We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

 

For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

 

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

 

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, on our web site, and we will mail a copy to you.

 

Other Instructions for Notice

 

Effective date of Notice:  2/20/2019

Our Privacy Official, can be reached at privacyofficial@davisstuart.org and/or 304-647-5577.

We do not create or manage a hospital directory. 

The responsibilities outline in this notice are followed by all Davis Stuart employees, volunteers, and students/interns.

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