Patient Privacy
FOR YOUR PROTECTION 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.
Your Health Information is Private and protected by
Federal Law
- Most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, many
other health care providers, health insurance companies, HMOs, most
employer group health plans and certain government programs, such
as Medicare and Medicaid must follow this law.
- The information protected by this law includes information your
doctors, nurses and other health care providers put in your medical
record, conversations your doctor has about your care or treatment
with nurses and others, you and your health insurer's computer
system, billing information about you at your clinic and most other
health information about you.
Providers and Health insurers who are required to follow
this law must comply with your right to
- Ask to see and get a copy of your health records
- Have corrections added to your health information
- Receive a notice that tells you how your health information may
be used or shared
- Decide if you want to give your permission before your health
information can be used or shared for certain purposes, such as for
marketing
- Get a report on when and why your health information was shared
for certain purposes
- If you believe your rights are being denied or your health
information isn't being protected, you can
- File a complaint with your provider or health insurer
- File a complaint with the U.S. Government
The Law Sets Rules and Limits on Who Can Look at and
Receive Your Information
- To make sure that your information is protected in a way that
does not interfere with your health care, your information can be
used and shared for your treatment and care coordination
- To pay doctors and hospitals for your health care and help run
their businesses
- With your family, relatives, friends and others you identify
who are involved with your health care, unless you object
- To make sure doctors give good care and offices are clean and
safe
- To protect the public's health, such as by reposting when the
flu is in your area
- Your health information CANNOT be used or shared without your
written permission unles this law allows it. For example,
without your authorization, your provider generally cannot
- Give your information to your employer
- Use or share your information fo rmarketing or advertising
purposes
- Share private notes about your mental health counseling
sessions
The Law Protects the Privacy of Your Health
Information
- Providers and health insurers who are required to follow this
law must keep your information private by teaching the people who
work for them how your information may and may not be used and
shared
- Taking appropriate and reasonable steps to keep your health
information secure
For more information, you can learn more about your
health information privacy and your rights in a fact sheet called
"Your Health Information Privacy Rights" from the website
www.hhs.gov/ocr/hippa/.