HIPAA 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.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
MS Home Health Care is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and applicable Florida law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI) and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices regarding your PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice while it is in effect.
How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI Without Your Authorization
For Treatment
We use and disclose your PHI to provide and coordinate your home health care. This includes sharing your information with your treating physicians, specialists, hospitals, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers involved in your care.
For Payment
We use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the services we provide – including with Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid, and other insurance.
Other Uses and Disclosures Without Your Authorization
HIPAA permits certain other uses and disclosures without your authorization, including:
- As required by law (e.g., court orders, subpoenas, reporting requirements)
- For public health activities (e.g., reporting communicable diseases)
- For health oversight activities by government regulators
- To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
- For law enforcement purposes under specific circumstances
- To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors after death
- For organ donation purposes
- To avert serious threats to health or safety
- For specialized government functions (e.g., military, national security)
- For workers compensation as authorized by law
- To family members or others involved in your care, with your agreement or in your best interest if you are incapacitated
For Health Care Operations
We use and disclose your PHI for our internal operations – including quality assessment and improvement, training, accreditation surveys, credentialing, business planning, and compliance.
Better outcomes at home.
- Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes (when applicable)
- Uses and disclosures for marketing purposes
- Disclosures that constitute a sale of your PHI
- Any other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice
You may revoke any authorization at any time in writing. The revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on the prior authorization.
Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI that we maintain. We may charge a reasonable cost-based fee for copies.
Right to Amend
If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. We may deny your request under certain circumstances – if we deny, we will explain why and you have the right to file a statement of disagreement.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to receive a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI. We are not required to agree to most requested restrictions, but we will accommodate restrictions you request for disclosures to a health plan for treatment paid out-of-pocket in full.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location (e.g., only by mail, only at your work address). We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have previously agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to Be Notified of Breach
You have the right to be notified if we (or one of our business associates) discover a breach of your unsecured PHI.
To exercise any of these rights or to file a complaint about our privacy practices, contact our Privacy Officer:
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights:
- Online: hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints
- Mail: 200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, DC 20201
- Phone: 1-877-696-6775
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Better outcomes at home.
Effective Date and Acknowledgment
This Notice is effective as of the date stated at the top. Patients receive a copy of this Notice at the start of care and are asked to acknowledge receipt.
MS/ Founder
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have about you as well as any PHI we receive in the future. The current Notice will be posted in our office and on our website.
