This Notice of Privacy describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. Protected health information (PHI) is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health condition and related health care services. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. We reserve the right to make corrections or changes to our Notice at any time.
USES AND DISCLOSURES OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION:
We may use and disclose your PHI for treatment, payment and health operations. We will only 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 party that has already obtained your permission to have access to your PHI. Example: we would disclose your PHI, as necessary, to the physician or health care professional who referred you to our office. We will also disclose PHI to other physicians who may be treating you. Your PHI will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. This may include activities that your health insurance plan may undertake before it approves or pays for the recommended services.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
HEALTH CARE OPTIONS:
We may disclose, as needed, your PHI in order to support the business activities of your physical therapist’s practice. These activities may include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, training, and conducting other business activities. Example: we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name. We may also call you by name from the waiting area when your physical therapist is ready to see you. We may use or disclose your PHI, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment. We may need to share your PHI with third-party “business associates” that perform various activities (i.e., billing, transcription) for our practice. We may use and disclose your PHI for marketing activities to share information about products or services that we believe may be beneficial to you.
OTHERS INVOLVED IN YOUR HEALTHCARE:
Unless you object we may disclose your PHI to family members, a close friend or any other person you identify to be involved in your healthcare. If you are unable to agree or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose information if we determine, based on professional judgment, which it is in your best interest.
EMERGENCIES:
We may use or disclose your PHI in an emergency treatment situation. If this happens, your physical therapist will try to obtain consent as soon as reasonably practical after the delivery of treatment.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS:
We may disclose PHI in the course of any judicial or administrative proceeding, in response to an order of a court or administrative tribunal (to the extent such disclosure is expressly authorized), in certain conditions in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process.
WORKER’S COMPENSATION:
Your PHI may be disclosed by us as authorized to comply with Worker’s Compensation laws and other similar legally established programs.
REQUIRED USES AND DISCLOSURES:
Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of Section 164,500 et. seq.
YOUR RIGHTS:
You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI: This means you may inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI (cost will be $.75 per page and $10.00 per hour search fee) that is contained in a designated record set or as long as we maintain the protected health information. A “designated record set” contains medical and billing records and any other records that your physical therapist and the practice use for making decisions about you. 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 purpose of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your PHI not to be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices. Your request must state the specific restriction and to whom you want the restriction to apply. Your physical therapist is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request. This restriction will remain in place until such time you request, in writing and witnessed, that it be removed from your file.
COMPLAINTS:
You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint with us by notifying us of your complaint. You may fax 212-379-2123.
