PIMS HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
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
This Notice is provided to you pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996 and its implementation regulations (“HIPAA”). It is designed to tell you how we may, under federal law, use or disclose your Health Information. It has been updated to the HITECH Omnibus Rule requirements.
I. Your Rights.
You have the right to request restrictions on the uses and disclosures of your Health Information. However, we are not required to comply with all requests. You are allowed to restrict transmittal of health care charges to your insurance carrier if you pay for those services, in full, by other means. You have the right to receive your Health Information through confidential means and in a manner that is reasonably convenient for you and us. You have the right to inspect and copy your Health Information. You may request your records in digital format and have your records sent digitally to another provider with written authorization. You have a right to request that we amend your Health Information that is incorrect or incomplete. We are not required to change your Health Information and will provide you with information about our denial and how you can disagree with the denial. You have a right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your Health Information made by us, except that we do not have to account for disclosures: authorized by you; made for treatment, payment, health care operations; provided to you; provided in response to an Authorization; made in order to notify and communicate with approved family members; and/or for certain government functions, to name a few.
II. We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information for Purposes of Treatment, Payment or Healthcare Operations without Obtaining Your Prior Authorization and Here is One Example of Each:
We may provide your Health Information to other health care professionals — including doctors, nurses and technicians — for purposes of providing you with care. Our billing department may access your information — and send relevant parts to insurance companies to allow us to be paid for the services we render to you. We may access or send your information to our attorneys or accountants in the event we need the information in order to address one of our own business functions. Our attorneys and accountants are required to maintain confidentiality when they receive patient information.
III. We May Also Use or Disclose Your Health Information Under Certain Circumstances without Obtaining Your Prior Authorization.
However, in general, we will attempt to ensure that you have been made aware of the use or disclosure of your Health Information prior to providing it to another person. Some instances where we may need to disclose information include but are not limited to: To Notify and/or Communicate with Your Family. We will only communicate with family members that we are authorized to communicate with based on your completion of the Authorization to Disclose Health Information to Family and Friends form.
As Required By Law.
For Health Oversight Activities. We may use or disclose your Health Information to health oversight agencies during the course of audits, investigations, certification and other proceedings. In Response to Civil Subpoenas or for Judicial Administrative Proceedings. We may use or disclose your Health Information, as directed, in the course of any civil administrative or judicial proceeding. To Law Enforcement Personnel. We may use or disclose your Health Information to a law enforcement official to comply with a court order or grand jury subpoena and other law enforcement purposes. For Purposes of Organ Donation. We may use or disclose your Health Information for purposes of communicating to organizations involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues. For Worker’s Compensation. We may use or disclose your Health Information as necessary to comply with worker’s compensation laws. For the link to our Bill Pay Site, we work with a secure third party service for payment processing. As such, data may be shared through the link to our Bill Pay Site to process your payments. All credit cards and other payment information you enter will be protected by the latest encryption software, provided your browser and computer are correctly configured and operating. The encrypted information is shared only with the third party payment processing service.
IV.
For All Other Circumstances, We May Only Use or Disclose Your Health Information After You Have Signed an Authorization. If you authorize us to use or disclose your Health Information for another purpose, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time. Fundraising: Should our organization use patient information for fund raising we will inform individuals that they have the right to opt out of fundraising solicitations and explain that process. You do have the capability to opt back in with written notice. Marketing: Should our organization use patient information for marketing purposes we will first obtain your written authorization and fully explain the uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes, and disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI require will require a separate written authorization. Breach Notice. All patients will be informed if there is a breach, as defined by federal rules, of their unsecured protected health information as required by the HIPAA regulations.
V. You Should Be Advised that We May Also Use or Disclose Your Health Information for the Following Purposes:
Change of Ownership. In the event that our Business is sold or merged with another organization, your Health Information/record will become the property of the new owner. Electronic Exchange. Your information may be shared for the purposes of Treatment, Payment or Healthcare Operations without obtaining your prior authorization.
VI. Our Duties.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your Health Information. By viewing this website, you agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Notice of Privacy Practices. You acknowledge and agree that you use this website at your own risk and that we do not represent, warrant or guarantee that the website will operate without interruption or will be timely, secure or error-free. We are also required to abide by the terms of this Notice. All employees, credentialed health care professionals, business associates, and any other individual with whom we have a contractual relationship are obligated to follow this Notice of Privacy Practices. This agreement is subject to change without notice to you. You agree that any regular updates or modifications will be effective immediately when posted on this site. We have the right to publish a revised agreement without specific notice to you, and you agree to review the posted agreement each time you use this site to become aware of any modifications made. By using this site, you agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the agreement.
VII. Complaints to our Organization and the Government.
You may make complaints to our HIPAA Privacy Officer or the Security of the Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) if you believe your rights have been violated. We will review all complaints in a professional manner and keep you informed of your rights as our patient. We promise not to retaliate against you for any complaint you make about our privacy practices.
VIII. Contact Information.
If you are concerned your privacy may have been violated or have any privacy questions, please contact the Physician Independent Management Services Privacy Official.
Physicians Independent Management Services, Inc.
Attn: HIPAA/HITECH Privacy Official
5755 Hoover Blvd.
Tampa, FL, 33634
Phone: (813) 490-7206
Toll Free: (866) 944-0404
compliancecommittee@pims-inc.com
You may also contact the DHHS at:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
200 Independence Avenue, S. W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 619-0257
Toll Free: (877) 696-6775