HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Effective as of April 1, 2003
Joint Notice of Privacy Practices
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED OR DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
The following organizations use health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care that you receive.
Classes of Organizations covered by this Joint Notice
- Physicians, and their office staff, who are privileged to practice medicine at Singing River Health System.
- Singing River Health System’s affiliated clinics and medical centers, such as East Central Medical Clinic.
- Singing River Health System’s Community and Corporate Wellness Center
This Joint Notice does not imply a closer business relationship between Singing River Health System and their Staff Physicians. The term “Joint” used in this notice applies to the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) only. This arrangement is specific only to this privacy notice and no other liability is expressed, implied or can be inferred from this Organized Health Care Arrangement. The majority of staff Physicians are not employees of Singing River Health System.
How We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information
For Treatment: We may use your health information to provide you with medical treatment or services. For example, information obtained by a health care provider, such as a physician, nurse, or other person providing health services to you, will record information in your health record that is related to your treatment. This information is necessary for health care providers to determine what treatment you should receive. Health care providers will also record actions taken by them in the course of your treatment and note how you respond to these actions.
For Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to others for purposes of receiving payment for treatment and services you receive at Singing River Health System facilities. For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payer, such as an insurance company or health plan. The information on the bill may contain information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and treatment or supplies used in the course of your treatment.
For Health Care Operations: We may use or disclose health information about you for operational purposes. For example, your health information may be disclosed to members of the medical staff, risk or quality improvement personnel, and others to:
- evaluate the performance of our staff;
- assess the quality of care and outcomes in your cases and similar cases;
- learn how to improve our facilities and services; and
- determine how to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care we provide.
Appointments: We may use your information to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. We may call your home, or office if you so desire, to provide appointment reminders.
Fund Raising: We may use your information to contact you to raise funds for Singing River Health System; or a group health plan, health insurance issuer, or HMO with respect to a group health plan may disclose health information to the sponsor of the plan.
Required by Law: We may use and disclose information about you as required by law. For example, Singing River Health System may disclose information for the following purposes:
- for judicial and administrative proceedings pursuant to legal authority;
- to report information related to victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence; and
- to assist law enforcement officials in their law enforcement duties
Public Health: Your health information may be used or disclosed for public health activities such as assisting public health authorities or other legal authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, or for other health oversight activities.
Decedents: Health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable them to carry out their lawful duties.
Organ/Tissue Donation: Your health information may be used or disclosed for cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation purposes.
Research: We may use your health information for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the research protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information has approved the research.
Health and Safety: Your health information may be used or disclosed to avert a serious threat to the health or safety of you or any other person pursuant to applicable law.
Government Functions: Your health information may be disclosed for specialized government functions such as the protection of public officials or reporting to various branches of the armed services.
Workers Compensation: Your health information may be used or disclosed in order to comply with laws and regulations related to Workers’ Compensation.
Other uses: Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization and you may revoke the authorization except to the extent Singing River Health System has taken action in reliance on such authorization.
Your Health Information Rights
You have the right to:
- request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your health information as provided by 45 CFR 164.522 such as “opting out” of our clergy directory. However, the organizations noted above are not required to agree to a requested restriction.
- obtain a paper copy of the notice of privacy practices upon request;
- inspect and obtain a copy of your health record as provided for in 45 CFR 164.524; However, there will be a fee charged for copying your medical information. Please contact the Release of Information Office at (228) 818-5280 for the cost of copying your medical information.
- amend your health record or health information as provided in 45 CFR 164.526. Please contact our System Privacy Officer at (228) 497-7271 if you wish to request an amendment of your medical record.
- request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations;
- revoke any authorization that you may have signed except to the extent that action has already been taken by Singing River Health System; and
- to receive an accounting of disclosures made of your health information as provided by 45 CFR 164.528. Please contact the Release of Information Office at (228) 818-5280 if you wish to obtain an accounting of disclosures. The first request is provided free of charge, but other requests within a 12-month period, will be assessed a fee.
Complaints
You may complain to any one of the above listed organizations and to the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint. If you wish to file a complaint with Singing River Health System, please contact our System Privacy Officer at (228) 497-7271.
Our Obligations under this Joint Notice
We are required by law to:
- maintain the privacy of protected health information;
- provide you with a notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information;
- abide by the terms of this notice;
- notify you if we are unable to agree with a requested restriction on how your health information is used or disclosed;
- accommodate reasonable requests you may make to communicate health information by alternatives means or at an alternative locations; and
- obtain your written authorization to use or disclose your health information for reasons other than those listed above and permitted under law.
We reserve the right to change our information practices and to make the news provision effective for all protected health information we maintain. The revised notice will be made available to you upon request. If you desire a revised Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact the Registration Department/Office at a Singing River Health System facility.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or complaints about the privacy of your health information, contact our System Privacy Officer at:
Kim Monson, CHP
System Privacy Officer
2012 Highway 90, Suite 34
Gautier, MS 39553
Phone: (228) 497-7271
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