Privacy Statement
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
MeritCare HealthCare Accessories is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your identifiable health information. In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and services we provide you. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. We also are required by law to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices concerning your identifiable health information. By law, we must follow the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices that we have in effect at the time.
To summarize, this notice provides you with the following information:
- How we may use and disclose your identifiable health information;
- Your privacy rights in your identifiable health information;
- Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your identifiable health information.
- Treatment.
We may use your identifiable information to provide supplies and
services to you. For example, we ask you to provide us with such
information as body weight, height , etc. Many of the people who work
for us may use or disclose your identifiable health information in
order to provide supplies and services to you or to assist others in
your treatment. Additionally, we may disclose your identifiable health
information to others who may assist in your care, such as your
physician, therapists, spouse, children or parents.
- Payment.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information in order
to bill and collect payment for the services and supplies you may
receive from us. For example, we may contact your health insurer to
certify that you are eligible for benefits (and for what range of
benefits), and we may provide your insurer with details regarding your
treatment to determine if your insurer will cover, or pay for your
supplies and/or services. We may also use and disclose your
identifiable health information to obtain payment from third parties
that may be responsible for such costs, such as family members. Also,
we may use your identifiable health information to bill you directly
for services and supplies.
- Health Care Operations.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information to operate
our business. As examples of the ways in which we may use and disclose
your health information for our operations, we may use your health
information to evaluate the quality of care you receive from us, or to
conduct cost-management and business planning activities for our
business.
- Appointment Reminders. We may use and disclose your identifiable health information to contact you and remind you of visits/deliveries.
- Health-Related Benefits and Services.
We may use your identifiable health information to inform you of
health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
- Release of Information to Family / Friends.
We may release your identifiable health information to a friend or
family member that is helping you pay for your health care, or who
assists in taking care of you.
- Disclosures Required By Law. We will use and disclose your identifiable health information when we are required to do so by federal, state or local laws.
The following categories describe unique scenarios in which we may use or disclose your identifiable health information:
- Public Health Risk.
We may disclose your identifiable health information to public health
authorities that are authorized by law to collect information for the
purpose of:
- Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths;
- Reporting child abuse or neglect;
- Preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability;
- Notifying a person regarding a potential exposure to a communicable disease;
- Notifying a person regarding a potential risk for spreading or contracting a disease or condition;
- Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices;
- Notifying individuals if a product or device they may be using has been recalled;
- Notifying appropriate government agency(ies) and authority(ies) regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult patient (including domestic violence); however, we will only disclose this information if the patient agrees or we are required or authorized by law to disclose this information.
- Health Oversight Activities.
We may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency
for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities can include, for
example, investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and
disciplinary actions; civil, administrative, and criminal procedures or
actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor
government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the health
care system in general.
- Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information in
response to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a
lawsuit or similar proceeding. We also may disclose your identifiable
health in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful
process by another party involved in a dispute, but only if we have
made an effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order
protecting the information the party has requested.
- Law Enforcement. We may release identifiable health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:
- Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if we are unable to obtain the person?s agreement;
- Concerning a death we believe might have resulted from criminal conduct;
- Regarding criminal conduct in our offices;
- In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena, or similar legal process;
- To identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive or missing person;
- In an emergency, to report a crime (including the location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the perpetrator).
- Serious Threats to Health or Safety.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information when
necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and
safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public.
Under these circumstances, we will only make disclosures to a person or
organization able to help prevent the threat.
- Military.
We may disclose your identifiable health information if you are a
member of U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans) and if
required by the appropriate military command facilities.
- National Security.
We may disclose your identifiable health information to federal
officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized
by law. We also may disclose your identifiable health information to
federal officials in order to protect the President, other officials or
foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.
- Inmates.
We may disclose your identifiable health information to correctional
institutions or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under
the custody of a law enforcement official. Disclosure for these
purposes would be necessary: (a) for the institution to provide health
care services to you, (b) for the safety and security of the
institution, and/or (c) to protect your health and safety or the health
and safety of other individuals.
- Workers? Compensation. We may release your identifiable health information for workers? compensation and similar programs.
- Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors.
We may disclose health information to a coroner or medical examiner. We
may also disclose medical information to funeral directors consistent
with applicable law to carry out their duties.
- Organ Procurement Organizations.
Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to
organ procurement organizations or entities engaged in the procurement,
banking, or the transportation of organs for the purpose of tissue
donation and transplant.
- Research. We may disclose information to researchers when their research has been approved by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your healthcare information.
- Confidential Communications.
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your
health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain
location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you at home, rather
than work. In order to request a type of confidential communication,
you must make a written request to us, specifying the requested method
of contact or location where you wish to be contacted. We will
accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
- Requesting Restrictions.
You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of
your identifiable health information for treatment, payment or health
care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request we limit
our disclosure of your identifiable health care information to
individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as
family members and friends. We are not required to agree to your request;
however, if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement except when
otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information is
necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction in our use or
disclosure of your identifiable health information, you must make your
request in writing to us. Your request must describe in clear and
concise fashion: (a) the information you wish restricted; (b) whether
you are requesting to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (c) to
whom you want the limits to apply.
- Inspection and Copies.
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the identifiable
health information that may be used to make decisions about you,
including patient medical records and billing records, but not
including psychotherapy notes. You must submit your request in writing
to us in order to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your identifiable
health information. We may charge a fee for the costs of copying,
mailing, labor and supplies associated with your request. We may deny
your request to inspect and/or copy in certain limited circumstances;
however, you may request a review of our denial. Reviews will be
conducted by another licensed health care professional chosen by us.
- Amendment.
You may ask us to amend your health information if you believe it to be
incorrect or incomplete, and you may request an amendment for as long
as the information is kept by or for us. To request an amendment, your
request must be made in and submitted to us in writing. You must
provide us with a reason that supports your request for amendment. We
will deny your request if you fail to submit your request (and the
reason supporting your request) in writing. Also, we may deny your
request if you ask us to amend information that is: (a) accurate and
correct; (b) not part of the identifiable health information kept by or
for us; (c) not part of the identifiable health information which you
would be permitted to inspect and copy; (d) not created by us, unless
the individual or entity that created the information is not available
to amend the information.
- Accounting of Disclosures.
All of our patients have the right to request an ?accounting of
disclosures.? An ?accounting of disclosures? is a list of certain
disclosures we have made of your identifiable health information. In
order to obtain an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your
request in writing to our office. All requests for an ?accounting of
disclosures? must state a time period which may not be longer than six
years and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first list
you request within a 12 month period is free of charge, but we may
charge you for additional lists within the same 12 month period. We
will notify you of the cost involved with additional requests, and you
may withdraw your request before you incur any costs.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. To obtain a paper copy of this notice, contact our office.
- Right to File a Complaint.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a
complaint with us or with the Office of Civil Rights. All complaints
must be in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
- Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and Disclosures. We will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law. Any authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your identifiable health information may be revoked at any time in writing. After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your identifiable health information for the reasons described in the authorization. Please note, we are required to retain records of your care.