NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
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.
Physicians Group is required to abide by this Privacy Notice. We may modify the terms of this notice, and the revised notice will be effective for all protected health information in our possession at the time of change and any information created or received after. You may request a copy of any revised notice by contacting our office. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact our Quality & Compliance Administrator at 910-686-7195.
This notice will inform you how the Physicians Group may use and disclose health information created or maintained about you in compliance with the Federal Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI): We may use and disclose health information about you for;
- Treatment: We will use and disclose your PHI to provide physician care and assist you in obtaining physician ordered tests, consults, and medications. The physician will share information with Physician Group staff in order to schedule or complete lab work and other services.
- Payment: Your protected health information may be used and disclosed to verify insurance benefits, obtain authorization for services, submit billing, secure payment for services, and appeal insurance denials when appropriate. For example, we may telephone your insurance carrier and provide them with demographic information about you in order to verify eligibility and specific benefits.
- Health Care Operations: In the process of operating our practice we may use and disclose your PHI when conducting quality assessments, auditing, accounting, scheduling, and managing medical records. For example, we may disclose your protected health information to business associates who do transcribing for us or we may use your PHI to remind you of an appointment.
Other Uses and Disclosures We May Make Without Your Written Authorization.
We may use and disclose protected health information about you when required by regulation or legally authorized to do so for;
- Public Health Activities, including reporting of communicable diseases, adverse reactions to medications, injury from a health care product, victim abuse
- Federal and State Agency Oversight
- Court Order, Military Order, Subpoena
- Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, Organ Procurement Agencies
Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made With Your Authorization
For uses and disclosures other than for treatment, payment, health care operations, and as required by Law, we are required to obtain your written authorization. If you wish us to release protected health information to individuals or entities not legally entitled to your records, such as a relative or attorney, you must provide us with written authorization each time you wish us to release records. You may obtain the appropriate authorization forms from the Physicians Group.
Your Rights
You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information, which you can exercise by presenting a written request to the Physicians Group:
- The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of protected health information, including those to consultants, family members directly involved in your care and treatment, or any other person identified by you. We are, however, not required to agree to a requested restriction. If we do agree, we must abide by it unless you agree in writing to remove the restriction.
- The right to reasonable requests to receive confidential communications of protected health information from us by alternative means or at alternative locations.
- The right to access your protected health information.
- The right to request an amendment to protected health information we create. We may deny your request if it does not contain a reason(s) that supports your request, the information was not created by us, or we believe the record to be accurate.
- The right to receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information other than for treatment, payment, health care operations, or those made pursuant to your written or verbal authorization or consent.
- The right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us upon request.
If you have reason to believe that your privacy rights have been violated and/or you wish to file a complaint you may do so with the Quality & Compliance Administrator or the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights within 180 days from the date of the incident of complaint. Complaints may be filed without fear of retaliation.
