Notice of Privacy Policy/ HIPPA
Thiera Smith, LAc values the privacy and security of your health information. To safeguard your health information, we strictly follow the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA sets national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and personal health information. This notice describes how patient health information is used and disclosed. It also describes how a patient can access his or her health information. In this document, “you” refers to the client.
Thiera Smith, LAc gathers personal information and health information in several ways:
– Information we receive from you
– Information we receive from other healthcare providers
-Information we receive from Third Party Payers
Protected Health Information (PHI) is any information that includes demographic information, information gathered during your appointment as it relates to your past, present, and future physical or mental health; or past, present, or future payments for healthcare services.
You should be aware that during the course of our relationship with you, we will likely use and disclose health information about you for the following purposes:
– Treatment
– Payment
Responsibilities of Thiera Smith, LAc:
The practitioner is required to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with a copy of this Notice of Privacy Policies. The responsibility of the practitioner is to
– Protect your privacy by limiting who can see your PHI
– Limit how we may use or disclose your PHI
– Inform you of our legal duties with respect to you PHI
– Explain our Privacy Policy
– Strictly adhere to the policies in effect
– Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your health information
Without your consent or authorization, Thiera Smith, LAc, may disclose information about you only to the following groups for these specific purposes:
– To a public health agency, for a purpose such as controlling disease
– To a hospital in the case of a medical emergency should you need prompt medical services
– To a personal representative, who, under applicable law, has the authority, with your agreement, to represent you in making decisions related to your healthcare
– In case of suspected child abuse, to the appropriate governmental authority
– In other cases of suspected abuse, to the appropriate governmental authority, with your agreement or if required by law, or if you are incapacitated or it appears necessary to prevent serious harm to you or others
– To health oversight committees, for regulatory, licensing, and other legal purposes
– In litigation, subject to certain requirements controlling the terms of this disclosure
– To comply with the law or respond to legal actions or lawsuits
– For medical research purposes, subject to your authorization or approval by an institutional review board
– If you are in the U.S. military or national security, to your authorized superiors or other authorized federal officials
Thiera Smith, LAc, will follow the terms of this notice and advise you if they are unable to comply with a request you may make regarding the use of your health information. Thiera Smith, LAc, reserves the right to amend their privacy policies at any time and will notify you of any amendments. Thiera Smith, LAc will not use or disclose your health information without your written consent except in one of the situations described in this notice.
Patient’s Right to Health Information:
Right to Access to Health Information
Your health record is owned by Theira Smith, LAc. However, the content is always available for you to review. You have the right to request a copy of your patient file and to obtain copies of all documents contained in your file. Your copy will be provided usually within 30 days of the request. The office may charge a cost-based fee.
Right to Amend or Supplement
Although you cannot change your existing record, you can add notes or comments to your health information. The practitioner then has the right to respond to your amendments.
Right to Restriction Requests
You can request that we not use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree with your request, and we may deny your request if it would affect your care. If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will agree unless a law required us to share that information. In addition, you have the right to get a list of those whom we’ve shared information with.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that you receive confidential communications or your health information from us in a specific way or at a specific location. We will agree to all reasonable requests.
Right to Choose Someone to Act for You
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information
Right to a copy of this Privacy Policy
You have the right to receive a copy of this privacy policy at any time
If you have a complaint
Please share any complaints about this Notice of Privacy Practices or how this practice handles your health information with us. If you are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles a complaint, you may submit a formal complaint to:
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Office of Civil Rights
Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509F HHH Building
Washington, DC 20201
You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.