RESOURCES

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED, DISCLOSED,
AND HOW YOU MAY ACCESS THIS INFORMATION.  PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY.

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law.  It is also describes your rights to access and control yourPHI.  PHI is information about you, including demographic information that may identify you and may relate to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition and related health services. Uses and Disclosure of PHI:  Your PHI may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care of treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you; to pay your health care bills; to support the operation of the physician’s practice; and any other use required by law.

Treatment:  We will use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services.  This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third part.  Example, your PHI may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.

Payment:  Your PHI will be used to obtain payment for your health care services.  Example, obtaining approval for a wheel chair seat cushion may require your relevant PHI be disclosed to the health plan to obtain approval for the cushion.

Healthcare Operations:  Your PHI may be used and disclosed to provide better health care services.  The information may be used for education, performance, quality enhancement, process improvement, customer service, and community relations.
We may use or disclose your PHI in he following situations with out your authorization.  These situations include: as Required By Law, Public Health issues; Communicable Diseases; Health Oversight; Abuse of Neglect; Food and Drug Administration requirement; Legal Proceedings; Law enforcement; Coroners; Funeral Directors; Organ Donations; Research; Criminal Activity; Military Activity and National Security; Workers Compensation; Inmates; Required Uses and Disclosures.  Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with requirements of Section 164.500.  Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures will be made only with your consent, authorization or opportunity to object, unless required by law.  At any time, you may revoke this authorization with written notification except to the extent your physician or his or her practice has taken and action in reliance on the use indicated in the authorization.

Under Federal Law, you may not inspect or copy the following records: psychotherapy notes; information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action proceeding, and PHI that is subject to law prohibiting access to PHI.  You have the right to request a restriction of your PHI.  This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your PHI for the purposes of treatment, payment or health care operations.  You may also request any part of your PHI not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as describe in this Notice of Privacy Practices.  Your request must state the specific restriction and exactly to whom it shall apply.  Your physician is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request.  If the physician believes it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your PHI, your PHI will not be restricted.  You have the right to use another Healthcare Professional.

You have the right to request confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location.  You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice, upon request.

You may have the right to have your physician amend your PHI.  If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of concern with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.
You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your PHI.

We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and will inform you by mail of changes that take place.  You then have the right to object or withdraw as described in this notice.

Concerns/Complaints: You may address your concerns to OrthoFit Inc., the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, American Board of Orthotics/Prosthetics, or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy right s have been violated.  You may file your concern with us by notifying our President about your concern/complaint by calling:  757.200.5811