NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

This notice describes how health care information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to said information. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY

We are committed to protect the privacy of your personal health information. This notice of privacy practices describes how we may use within our practice or network and disclose (to share outside of our practice or network) your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations. We may also share your information for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. This notice also described your rights to access and control your PHI. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI. We will follow the terms outlined in this notice.

We may change our notice, at any time. Any changes will apply to all PHI. Upon your request, we will provide you with any revised notice by:

  • Posting new notice in our office
  • If requested, copy may be acquired by mail or can be found on our website under Privacy
  • Revisions posted on our website

Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information

We may use or disclose your PHI to provide health care treatment for you. 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 and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you. Ex: Your PHI may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred for evaluation to ensure that your physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you. We may also share your PHI to another physician or health care provider (i.e.: specialist/laboratory) who, at the request of your physician, becomes involved in your care by providing assistance with your health care diagnosis or treatment to your physician. We may also share your PHI with people outside of our practice that may provide medical care for you, such as home health agencies.

Your PHI may be used to obtain payment services. There may be services for which we share information with your health plan to determine if services will be paid. Your PHI will be shared with, but not necessarily limited to the following:

  • Billing companies
  • Insurance companies, health plans
  • Government agencies to assist with qualification of benefits
  • Collection agencies

Ex: You are seen in our office for a specific procedure. Those services are shared with your insurance company for reimbursement. We may contact your health plan to receive approval prior to preforming certain procedures to ensure coverage.

Your PHI may be shared to support the business activities of this practice which are called health care operations. i.e.:

  • Training students, other providers, or ancillary staff
  • Quality improvement processes which look at delivery of health care and for improvement is processes which will provide safer, more effective care for you
  • To assist in resolving problems or complaints within the practice

Your PHI may be use without your permission in the following situations:

  • If required by law: The use and disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law.
  • Public health activities: The disclosure will be made for the purpose of controlling disease, injury or disability and only to public health authorities permitted by law to collect or receive information. We may also notify individuals who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition.
  • Health oversight agencies: We may disclose PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections. Oversight agencies seeking this information include government benefit programs, other government regulatory programs and civil rights laws.
  • Legal proceedings: To assist in any legal proceeding, or other lawful purposes
  • Police or other law enforcement purposes: The release of PHI will meet all applicable legal requirements for release
  • Coroners, funeral directors: We may disclose PHI to a coroner or medical examiner to perform other duties authorized by law
  • Medical research: May disclose PHI to researches when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your protected health information.
  • Special government purposes: Information may be shared for national security purposes, or if you are a member of the military, to the military under limited circumstances.
  • Correctional institutions: Information may be shared if you are an inmate or under custody of law, which is necessary for your health or the health and safety of other individuals.
  • Worker’s compensation: Your PHI may be disclosed by us as authorized to comply with workers’ compensation laws and other similar legally established programs.

Other uses and disclosures of your PHI

  • Business associates: some services are provided using contracted entities called “business associates” (BA). We will always release only the minimum amount of PHI necessary so that the BA can perform the identified services. We require the BA to appropriately safeguard your information. Examples of a BA include billing companies or transcription services.
  • Health information exchange: We may make your PHI available electronically to other healthcare providers outside of our facility who are involved in your care.
  • Treatment alternatives: We may provide you notice of treatment options or other health related services that may improve your overall health
    Appointment reminders: We may contact you as a reminder about upcoming appointments or treatments.

We may use or disclose your PHI in the following situations unless you object:

  • Share your PHI with friends/family members or other persons directly identified by you at the level they are involved in your care or payment of services. If you are not present or able to agree/object, the healthcare provider using professional judgment will determine if it is in your best interest to share the information. Ex: We may discuss post procedure instructions with the person who drove you to the facility unless you tell us specifically not to share the information.
  • We may use or disclose protected health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or any other person that responsible for your care of your location, general condition or death.
  • To an authorized public or private entity to assist in disaster relief efforts.

The following uses and disclosures of PHI require your written authorization:

  • Marketing
  • Release of psychotherapy

Privacy Rights
You have certain rights related to your PHI. You have the right to see and obtain a copy of your PHI. We may charge you a reasonable fee for records request. You have the right to a list of people or organizations who have received your health information from us. If your request for records of periods longer than 12 months, but within the appropriate legal timeframe, you may be charged a reasonable fee.

Additional Privacy Rights:
You have the right to obtain paper copy of this notice, upon request. You will receive a copy of this policy on your initial visit to our office. You have the right to receive notification of any breach of your PHI.

Complaints
If you think we have violated your rights, or have a complaint you may contact the privacy officer of Serenity Health Care Solutions by mail to 300 Rainbow Drive Suite 102, Florence, SC 29501 or by phone: 843-942-9960. You may also list a complaint to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.