| This notice
describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and
how you may get access to this information. PLEASE
READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY EFFECTIVE April 14, 2003
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
KEY MOBILITY SERVICES is dedicated to
maintaining the privacy of your identifiable health information. In conducting
our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and
services we provide you. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality
of health information that identifies you. We also are required by law
to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
concerning your identifiable health information. By law, we must follow
the terms of the notice of privacy practices that we have in effect at
the time.
To summarize, this notice provides you with the following information:
- How we may use and disclose your identifiable health
information
- Your privacy rights in your identifiable health information
- Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of
your identifiable health information.
The terms of this notice apply to all records containing
your identifiable health information that are created or retained by our
organization. We reserve the right to revise or amend our notice of privacy
practice. Any revision or amendment to this notice will be effective for
all of your records our organization has created or maintained in the
past, and for any of your records we may create in the future.
If you have any questions about this
notice, please contact KEY MOBILITY SERVICE
We may use and disclose your information in the following ways:
- Treatment. We may use your identifiable
information to provide supplies and services to you. For example, we
ask you to provide us with such information as body weight, height ,
etc. Many of the people who work for us may use or disclose your identifiable
health information in order to provide supplies and services to you
or to assist others in your treatment. Additionally, we may disclose
your identifiable health information to others who may assist in your
care, such as your physician, therapists, spouse, children or parents.
- Payment. We may use and disclose your
identifiable health information in order to bill and collect payment
for the services and supplies you may receive from us. For example,
we may contact your health insurer to certify that you are eligible
for benefits (and for what range of benefits), and we may provide your
insurer with details regarding your treatment to determine if your insurer
will cover, or pay for your supplies and/or services. We may also use
and disclose your identifiable health information to obtain payment
from third parties that may be responsible for such costs, such as family
members. Also, we may use your identifiable health information to bill
you directly for services and supplies.
- Health Care Operations. We may use and
disclose your identifiable health information to operate our business.
As examples of the ways in which we may use and disclose your health
information for our operations, may use
your health information to evaluate the quality of care you receive
from us, or to conduct cost-management and business planning activities
for our business.
- Appointment Reminders. We may use and
disclose your identifiable health information to contact you and remind
you of visits/deliveries.
- Health-Related Benefits and Services.
We may use your identifiable health information to inform you of health-related
benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
- Release of Information to Family / Friends.
We may release your identifiable health information to a friend or family
member that is helping you pay for your health care, or who assists
in taking care of you.
- Disclosures Required By Law. We will
use and disclose your identifiable health information when we are required
to do so by federal, state or local law.
Use and Disclosure of Your Identifiable Health Information in
Certain Special Circumstance
The following categories describe unique scenarios in which we may use
or disclose your identifiable health information:
- Public Health Risk. We may disclose
your identifiable health information to public health authorities that
are authorized by law to collect information for the purpose of:
- Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths
- Reporting child abuse or neglect
- Preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability
- Notifying a person regarding a potential exposure
to a communicable disease
- Notifying a person regarding a potential risk for
spreading or contracting a disease or condition
- Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products
or devices
- Notifying individuals if a product or device they
may be using has been recalled
- Notifying appropriate government agency(ies) and
authority(ies) regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult
patient (including domestic violence); however, we will only disclose
this information if the patient agrees or we are required or authorized
by law to disclose this information.
- Health Oversight Activities. We may
disclose your health information to a health oversight agency for activities
authorized by law. Oversight activities can include, for example, investigations,
inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary actions; civil,
administrative, and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities
necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance
with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.
- Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings. We
may use and disclose your identifiable health information in response
to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit
or similar proceeding. We also may disclose your identifiable health
in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process
by another party involved in a dispute, but only if we have made an
effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting
the information the party has requested.
- Law Enforcement. We may release
identifiable health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement
official:
- Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if
we are unable to obtain the persons agreement
- Concerning a death we believe might have resulted
from criminal conduct
- Regarding criminal conduct in our offices
- In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena,
or similar legal process
- To identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive
or missing person
- In an emergency, to report a crime (including the
location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity
or location of the perpetrator)
- Serious Threats to Health or Safety.
We may use and disclose your identifiable health information when necessary
to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the
health and safety of another individual or the public. Under these circumstances,
we will only make disclosures to a person or organization able to help
prevent the threat.
- Military. We may disclose your identifiable
health information if you are a member of U.S. or foreign military forces
(including veterans) and if required by the appropriate military command
facilities.
- National Security. We may disclose your
identifiable health information to federal officials for intelligence
and national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose
your identifiable health information to federal officials in order to
protect the President, other officials or foreign heads of state, or
to conduct investigations.
- Inmates. We may disclose your identifiable
health information to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials
if you are an inmate or under the custody of a law enforcement official.
Disclosure for these purposes would be necessary: (a) for the institution
to provide health care services to you, (b) for the safety and security
of the institution, and/or (c) to protect your health and safety or
the health and safety of other individuals.
- Workers Compensation. We may release
your identifiable health information for workers compensation
and similar programs.
- Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors.
We may disclose health information to a coroner or medical examiner.
We may also disclose medical information to funeral directors consistent
with applicable law to carry out their duties.
- Organ Procurement Organizations. Consistent
with applicable law, We may disclose health information to organ procurement
organizations or entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or the
transportation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.
- Research.
We may disclose information to researchers when their research
has been approved by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board
that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to
ensure the privacy of your healthcare information.
Your Rights Regarding Your Identifiable Health Information
-
Confidential Communications. You have the right
to request that we communicate with you about your health and related
issues in a particular manner or at a certain location. For instance,
you may ask that we contact you at home, rather than work. In order
to request a type of confidential communication, you must make a written
request to us, specifying the requested method of contact or location
where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
You do not need to give a reason for your request.
-
Requesting Restrictions.
You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure
of your identifiable health information for treatment, payment or
health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request
we limit our disclosure of your identifiable health care information
to individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care,
such as family members and friends. We are not required to agree to
your request; however, if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement
except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the
information is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction
in our use or disclosure of your identifiable health information,
you must make your request in writing to us. Your request must describe
in clear and concise fashion: (a) the information you wish restricted;
(b) whether you are requesting to limit our use, disclosure or both;
and (c) to whom you want the limits to apply.
- Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect
and obtain a copy of the identifiable health information that may be
used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records
and billing records, but not including psychotherapy notes. You must
submit your request in writing to us in order to inspect and/or obtain
a copy of your identifiable health information. We may charge a fee
for the costs of copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with
your request. We may deny your request to inspect and/or copy in certain
limited circumstances; however, you may request a review of our denial.
Reviews will be conducted by another licensed health care professional
chosen by us.
- Amendment. You may ask us to amend your health
information if you believe it to be incorrect or incomplete, and you
may request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or
for us. To request an amendment, your request must be made in and submitted
to us in writing. You must provide us with a reason that supports your
request for amendment. We will deny your request if you fail to submit
your request (and the reason supporting your request) in writing. Also,
we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that is:
(a) accurate and correct; (b) not part of the identifiable health information
kept by or for us; (c) not part of the identifiable health information
which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; (d) not created by
us, unless the individual or entity that created the information is
not available to amend the information.
- Accounting of Disclosures. All of our patients
have the right to request an accounting of disclosures.
An accounting of disclosures is a list of certain disclosures
we have made of your identifiable health information. In order to obtain
an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing
to our office. All requests for an accounting of disclosures
must state a time period which may not be longer than six years and
may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first list you request
within a 12 month period is free of charge, but we may charge you for
additional lists within the same 12 month period. We will notify you
of the cost involved with additional requests, and you may withdraw
your request before you incur any costs.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You are
entitled to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices.
You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. To obtain
a paper copy of this notice, contact our office.
- Right to File a Complaint.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may
file a compliant with us or with the Office of Civil Rights. All complaints
must be in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
- Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and
Disclosures.
We will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures
that are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law.
Any authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure
of your identifiable health information may be revoked at any time in
writing. After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use
or disclose your identifiable health information for the reasons described
in the authorization. Please note, we are required to retain records
of your care.
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