HIPAA
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.
About this notice
This Notice will tell you about the ways we may use and disclose health information that identifies you (“Health Information”).We also describe your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of HealthInformation. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of Health Information that identifies you; give you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your Health Information; and follow the terms of our Notice that are currently in effect. This Notice covers the practice of Nimishillen Creek Dental and all providers who practice at Nimishillen Creek Dental, as well as our clinical support staff.
How we may use and disclose health information about you
The following categories describe different ways that we may use and disclose Health Information.
For Treatment
We may use Health Information about you to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose Health Information to doctors, nurses, technicians, or other personnel who are involved in taking care of you. For example, a dentist treating you for an abscessed tooth may need to know if you have a medical condition that may slow the healing process. We share Health Information such as prescriptions, lab work and x-rays to coordinate your treatment. We may disclose Health Information to people outside our practice who may be involved in your care.
For Payment
For Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose Health Information for health care operations purposes. These uses and disclosures are necessary to make sure that all of our patients receive quality care and for our operation and management purposes. For example, we may use Health Information to review the treatment and services you receive to check on the performance of our staff in caring for you. We also may disclose information to doctors, nurses, technicians, and other personnel for educational and learning purposes. The entities and individuals covered by this Notice also may share information with each other for purposes of our joint health care operations.
Appointment Reminders/Treatment Alternatives/Health-Related Benefits and Services
We may use and disclose Health Information to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment for treatment or medical care, or to contact you to tell you about possible treatment options or alternatives or health related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
We may use and disclose Health Information so that we may bill for treatment and services you receive at Nimishillen Creek Dental and can collect payment from you, an insurance company or another third party. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about your treatment in order for your health plan to pay for such treatment. We also may tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the treatment. In the event a bill is overdue we may need to give Health Information to a collection agency as necessary to help collect the bill or may disclose an outstanding debt to credit reporting agencies.
Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care
We may release Health Information to a person who is involved in your medical care or helps pay for your care, such as a family member or friend. We also may notify your family about your location or general condition or disclose such information to an entity assisting in a disaster relief effort.
Research
Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose Health Information for research purposes. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health and recovery of all patients who received one medication to those who received another, for the same condition. Before we use or disclose Health Information for research, however, the project will go through a special approval process. This process evaluates a proposed research project and its use of Health Information to balance the benefits of research with the need for privacy of Health Information. Even without special approval, we may permit researchers to look at records to help them identify patients who may be included in their research project or for similar purposes, so long as they do not remove or take a copy of any Health Information.
As Required by Law
We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by international, federal, state or local law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety
We may use and disclose Health Information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, will be to someone who may be able to help prevent the threat.
Business Associates
We may disclose Health Information to our business associates that perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if the information is necessary for such functions or services. For example, we may use another company to perform billing services on our behalf. All of our business associates are obligated, under contract with us, to protect the privacy of your information and are not allowed to use or disclose any information other than as specified in our contract.
Military and Veterans
If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release Health Information as required by military command authorities. We also may release Health Information to the appropriate foreign military authority if you are a member of a foreign military
Workers’ Compensation
We may release Health Information for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
Public Health Risks
We may disclose Health Information for public health activities. These activities generally include disclosures to: a person subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for purposes related to the quality, safety or effectiveness of an FDA-regulated product or activity; prevent or control disease, injury or disability; report births and deaths; report child abuse or neglect; report reactions to medications or problems with products; notify people of recalls of products they may be using; a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; and the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence and the patient agrees or we are required or authorized by law to make such disclosure.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose Health Information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
Lawsuits and Disputes
If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose Health Information in response to a court or administrative order. We also may disclose Health Information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
Law Enforcement
We may release Health Information if asked by a law enforcement official for the following reasons: in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process; limited information to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; about the victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement; about a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct; about criminal conduct on our premises; and in emergency circumstances to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims, or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.
Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors
We may release Health Information to a coroner, medical examiner or funeral director so that they can carry out their duties.
Inmates
If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release Health Information to the correctional institution or law enforcement official. This release would be if necessary(1) for the institution to provide you with health care; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) the safety and security of the correctional institution.
National Security and Intelligence Activities and Protective Services
We may release Health Information to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counter-intelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose Health Information to authorized federal officials so they may conduct special investigations and provide protection to the President, other authorized persons and foreign heads of state.
Other Uses of Health Information
Other uses and disclosures of Health Information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. For example, except for limited circumstances allowed by federal privacy law, we will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes about you, sell your health information to others, or use or disclose your health information for certain promotional communications that are considered marketing under federal law, without your written authorization. Once you give us authorization to release your health information, we cannot guarantee that the recipient to whom the information is provided will not disclose the information. You may revoke your authorization at any time by submitting a written request to our Privacy Officer, except to the extent that we acted in reliance on your authorization.
Your Rights Regarding Health Information About You
You have the following rights, subject to certain limitations, regarding Health Information we maintain about you:
Right to Inspect and Copy
You have the right to inspect and copy Health Information that may be used to make decisions about your care or payment for your care. If we maintain a copy of your Health Information electronically, you also have the right to obtain a copy of that information in electronic format. You can also request that we provide a copy of your information to a third party that you identify. We may deny your request to inspect or copy your medial information in limited circumstances. If we deny you request, you have the right to have the denial reviewed. We may charge you a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request.
Right to Request Amendments
If you feel that Health Information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information and you must tell us the reason for your request. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for Nimishillen Creek Dental. A request for amendments must be submitted, in writing, to the Privacy Officer at the address provided at the end of this notice. We may deny your request for an amendment in limited circumstances. If we deny you request, you may have a statement of disagreement added to your Health Information.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures” of Health Information. This is a list of certain disclosures we made of Health Information in the six years prior to your request. We are not required to account for certain disclosures including disclosures for treatment, payment or health care operations or disclosures to you or pursuant to your authorization. The first list you request within a 12 month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the Health Information we use or disclose for treatment, payment, or health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the Health Information we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care, like a family member or friend. We are not required to agree to your request. If we agree, we will comply with your request unless we terminate our agreement or the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment.
You have the right to be notified if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your Health Information.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you by mail or at work. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice,
even if you have agreed to receive this Notice electronically. You may request a copy of this Notice at any time. You may obtain a copy of this Notice at our web site,
https://nimcreekdental.com/hipaa/.
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise your rights described in this Notice, send your request, in writing, to our Privacy Officer at the address listed at the end of this Notice. To obtain a paper copy of our Notice, contact our Privacy Officer by phone or mail.
Changes To This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed Notice effective for Health Information we already have as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current Notice at our office and on our website. The end of our Notice will contain the Notice’s effective date.
Right to Be Notified of a Breach
Right to Restrict Certain Disclosures to your Health Plan
You have the right to request that we not disclose Health Information to your health plan if that information relates to health care items or services for which you have paid out of pocket, in full, at the time that the service is provided. You must notify the practice of your request to not provide Health Information about the service to your health insurance plan. We will agree to such requests unless required by law to disclose that information to the health plan.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with our office, contact our Privacy Officer at the address listed at the end of this notice. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
Questions
Complaints
If you have a question about this Privacy Notice please contact:
Dr. Jude A. Thomas, D.M.D., J.D., LL.M., M.B.A.
Privacy Officer
6020 Louisville Street N.E. Louisville, OH 44641
Nimishillen Creek Dental
Phone: 330-875-1688
Effective date: May 12, 2020
E-mail: info@nimcreekdental.com
Website: nimcreekdental.com/hipaa