Review Our HIPAA Privacy Notice
South Florida Neurology in Boca Raton, Florida, provides essential information about HIPAA privacy requirements for your health records and information. This notice describes how medical and mental health information about you may be used and disclosed and outlines how you can get access to this information.
Requirement
Federal regulations developed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that we provide you with this notice regarding the privacy of your personal health information. The notice describes how we may use and disclose your protected heath information, your rights to access and control of said information, and our duties.
Protected Health Information
Protected health information is defined as information created or received by your health care provider that contains evidence that may be used to identify you, such as demographic data. It includes written or oral health data that relates to your past, present, or future physical and mental health, the provision of health care to you, and your past, present or future payment for care.
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Understanding Your Health Record
As we provide services to you, we obtain, record, and use mental health and medical information about you that is considered protected. Normally, that information is confidential and is not used or disclosed, except in certain circumstances.
Disclosure
Protected health information can be disclosed for the purpose of treatment, payment, and operations. Every time you meet with us or any doctor, a record of the visit is made. This entry often contains information about your symptoms, clinical observations, mental status evaluation, test performance and results, diagnoses, summary of discussions related to care, and recommendations. This data is used for the following:
• Basis for Planning Care and Treatment
• Communication Among Healthcare Providers Involved In Care
• Justification by Patient or a Third Party to Verify Services Billed Were Actually Provided |
• Legal Document Describing the Care Received
• Tool to Assess and Work to Improve the Practice's Operation, Care Given, and Outcome Achieved |
Understanding Information
By understanding what is in your record and how it is used will help you ensure its accuracy and better understand the circumstances of others accessing your health information. It can also help you make a more informed decision when authorizing disclosure to others.
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Health Information Rights
Your health record is our physical property while the information in the record belongs to you. HIPAA privacy regulations afford you certain rights, such as the right to:
• Inspect and Copy Your Records
• Obtain a Paper Copy of This Notice
• Request a Restriction on Uses and Disclosures
• Request an Accounting of Certain Disclosures |
• Request an Amendment of Your Information
• Revoke Authorization to Use or Disclose
• Request Receipt of Confidential Communications by Alternate Means or Locations |
Our Rights
In addition to treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, we can use or disclose your information without your permission in certain circumstances. These situations include:
• When Legally Required
• When There Are Risks to Public Health
• Reporting Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence
• For Research Purposes Provided It Maintains Your Privacy
• Preventing or Diminish a Threat to Health or Safety
• Compliance with Workers' Compensation Laws or Similar Program
• Conducting Health Oversight Activities Such as Audits, Investigations, Proceedings or Actions, Inspections, License or Disciplinary Actions, and Other Necessary Oversight as Permitted By Law |
• For Judicial and Administrative Proceedings Authorized By a Court Order or Administrative Tribunal
• For Law Enforcement Purposes Including To Report Certain Physical Injuries; As Required By Court Order, Needed to Identify or Locate a Suspect, Witness or Missing Person; To Report a Crime in an Emergency; If You Are a Victim of a Crime; Or If You Are Involved In an Accident
• Facilitating Specified Government Functions Related To Military, National Security, and Intelligence Activities, Protected Presidential Services, Medical Suitability Determinations, Correctional Institutions, and Law Enforcement Custodial Situation |
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Family Disclosure
We may also disclose your health information to family or friends if it is directly related to their involvement in your care or the payment of your care. We may also disclose information if we are attempting to locate or notify family members of your location, condition, or death. We will inform you orally or in writing of such disclosures. You have the right to object to these in advance either orally or in writing. If you do not object, we will infer that you do not disagree with the disclosure or it is in your best interests for us to disclose the information. If you are incapacitated or in an emergency situation, we will exercise our professional judgment to determine if the disclosure is in your best interest. We will only release information directly relevant to your health care. All other instances of disclosure require your written authorization. You may revoke your agreement in writing at any time except in the instance we have already taken action.
Practice Duties
Our duties as a medical practice include maintaining the privacy of your health information, providing you with the notice of your rights and our duties and procedures regarding privacy, and abiding by the terms of this notice, which may be amended periodically. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and to institute new provisions effective for all protected information we collect and maintain. A copy of the revised notice will be provided to you via regular mail or in-person. You will be notified if we can't agree to a requested restriction. All reasonable requests regarding the communication of health information by alternative means or locations will be accommodated.
Questions and Complaints
If you have questions or concerns about this notice, please ask us. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to relate such complaints to us and to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against in any way for filing a complaint. We encourage you to relate any concerns you may have about your health care privacy.
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