Notice of Privacy Practices for Personal Health Information (HIPAA)
Effective April 14, 2003, this Notice of Privacy Practices describes the practices of Premier Home Care, Inc. for safeguarding individually identifiable personal health information and you can access this information. The terms of this Notice apply to All Patients and Clients of Premier Home Care, Inc. Please review carefully:
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of our patients’ and clients’ personal health information and to provide notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to personal health information. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice as long as it remains in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice as necessary and to make the new Notice effective for all personal health information maintained by us. Copies of revised Notices will be mail to active patients and clients. You have the right to request a paper copy of the Notice.
Uses and disclosures of your personal health information.
Authorization. Except as explained below, we will not use or disclose your personal health information for any purpose unless you have signed a form authorizing a use or disclosure. Unless we have taken the right to revoke an authorization if the request for revocation is in writing and sent to Premier Home Care, Inc. Health Information Protection Analyst P.O. Box 20068 Louisville, KY 40250. A form to revoke an authorization can be obtained from the Health Information Protection Analyst.
Disclosure for Treatment. We may disclose your personal health information as necessary for your treatment. For instance, an insurance company may request your personal health information in our possession to assist in your care.
Uses and Disclosures for Payment. We will use and disclose your personal health information as necessary for payment purposes. For instance, we may use your personal health information to process or pay claims or to perform prospective reviews. We may also forward information to another insurer in order for it to process to pay claims on your behalf.
Uses and Disclosures for Health Care Operations. We will use and disclose your personal health information as necessary for health care operations. For instance, we may use or disclose your personal health information for quality assessment and quality improvement, conducting or arranging for medical review or compliance. We may also disclose your personal health information to another insurer in order for it to process to pay claims on your behalf.
Uses and Disclosures for Health Care Operations. We will use and disclose your personal health information as necessary for health care operations. For instance, we may use or disclose your personal health information for quality assessment and quality improvement, conducting or arranging for medical review or compliance. We may also disclose your personal health information to another insurer, health care facility or health care provider for activities such as quality assurance or case management. We may contact your health care providers concerning prescription drug or treatment alternatives.
Other Health-Related Uses and Disclosures. We may contact you to provide reminders for appointments; information about treatment alternatives; or other health-related programs, products or services that may be available to you.
Business Associate. Certain aspects and components of our services are performed by outside people or organizations pursuant to agreements or contracts. It may be necessary for us to disclose your personal health information to these outside people or organizations that perform services on our behalf. We require them to appropriately safeguard the privacy of your personal health information.
Family, Friends and Personal Representatives. With your approval, we may disclose to family members, close personal friends, or another person you identify, your personal health information relevant to their involvement with your care or paying for your care. If you are unavailable, incapacitated or involved in an emergency situation, and we determine that a limited disclosure is in your best interests, we may disclose your personal health information without your approval.
Other Uses and Disclosures. We are permitted or required by law to use or disclose your personal health information, without your authorization, in the following circumstances:
- For any purpose required by law
- For public health activities (for example, reporting of disease, injury, birth, death or suspicion of child abuse or neglect)
- To a governmental authority or if we believe an individual is a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
- For health oversight activities (for example, audits, inspections, licensure actions or civil, administrative or criminal proceedings or actions)
- For judicial or administrative proceedings (for example, pursuant to court order, subpoena or discovery request)
- For law enforcement purposes (for example, reporting wounds or injuries or for identifying or locating suspects, witnesses or missing people)
- To coroners or funeral directors
- For certain research purposes
- To avert a serious threat to health or safety under certain circumstances
- For military activities if you are a member of the armed forces; for intelligence or national issues; or about an inmate or an individual to a correctional institution or law enforcement official having custody; and
- For compliance with workers compensation programs.
Other uses and disclosures of your personal health information can only be made with your consent. We will adhere to all state and federal laws or regulations that provide additional privacy protections. We will only use or disclose AIDS/HIV-related information, genetic testing information and information pertaining to your mental condition or any substance abuse problems as permitted by state and federal law or regulation.
