Our Privacy Policy–HIPAA
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT:
Leeann Garms
Chief Executive Officer
Raleigh Neurology Associates
1540 Sunday Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
984-268-2200
lgarms@raleighneurology.com
NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICIES (La versión en español está disponible a continuación.)
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
INTRODUCTION
At Raleigh Neurology Associates, P.A. (RNA) and Raleigh Neurology Imaging (RNI) we are committed to treating and using your protected health information responsibly. This Notice of Privacy Policies describes the protected health information we collect, and how and when we use and disclose that information. It also describes your rights as they relate to your protected health information. This Notice is effective April 13, 2003, and applies to all protected health information that we create or obtain in providing services to you. We protect the privacy of that information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and applicable privacy laws.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
Each time you visit RNA/RNI, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This record also contains charges and billing documents for the services you receive. This record serves as a
Basis for planning your care and treatment, Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care, Legal document describing the care you received, Means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided, Tool in educating health professionals, Source of data for medical research, Source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of this state and the nation, Source of data for our planning and marketing, and Tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve. Understanding what is in your record and how your protected health information is used helps you to: ensure its accuracy, better understand who, what, when, where and why others may access your protected health information, and make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.
YOUR RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
Although your health record is the physical property of RNA/RNI, the protected health information in your record belongs to you. You have the right to:
- Obtain a paper copy of this Notice upon request
- Inspect and copy your protected health information as provided by 45 CFR 164.524
- Amend your protected health information as provided by 45 CFR 164.526
- Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information as provided by 45 CFR 164.528
- Request that communications of your protected health information be made by alternative means or at analternative location as provided by 45 CFR 164.522—we will accommodate all reasonable requests and will notify you if we deny your request
- Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your protected health information as provided by 45 CFR 164.522 – If you ask us not to disclose health information to your health plan for items or service for which you paid in full and out of pocket, we are required to honor this request and we will not disclose the information to the plan.In all other cases, we are not required to agree to a requested restriction, and
Revoke your authorization to use or disclose protected health information at any time as described below except to the extent that action has already been taken pursuant to your authorization. To exercise any of these rights, submit your request in writing with the required information to the following person:
Privacy Officer
1540 Sunday Drive; Raleigh, NC 27607-6000
919-782-3456.
The Privacy Officer will provide you with assistance on the steps to take to exercise your rights.
Receive notification of any breach of your unsecured PHI caused by us.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
RNA/RNI is required to:
Maintain the privacy of your protected health information as required by law,
Provide you with this Notice about our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information we collect and maintain about you, and abide by the terms of this Notice.
We will post this Notice in our office and, to the extent that we maintain a comprehensive website, on such website. We reserve the right to change or eliminate provisions in our Notice of Privacy Policies and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain and any protected health information that we receive in the future. Should our privacy policies change, we will revise this Notice and post the updated Notice in our office and, as applicable, on our website. You are entitled to receive a revised copy of the Notice by calling and requesting a copy of the Notice or by visiting our office and requesting a copy.
We will not use or disclose your protected health information without your authorization, except as described in this Notice. We will also discontinue use or disclosure of your protected health information after we receive a written revocation of the authorization according to the procedures included in the authorization.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REPORT A PROBLEM
If you have questions or would like additional information about our privacy policies, you may contact the Privacy Officer at 919-782-3456 or in writing at 1540 Sunday Drive; Raleigh, NC 27607-6000.
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Privacy Officer in writing at 1540 Sunday Drive; Raleigh, NC 27607-6000. You may also file a complaint by mailing it or emailing it to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints must be submitted in writing within 180 days of the time when you became aware or should have become aware of the issue giving rise to your complaint. We will not require you to waive the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Officer or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services as a condition of receiving treatment from our office. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint with either the Privacy Officer or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The address for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is:
Region IV, Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 3B70
Atlanta, GA 30323-8909
Telephone: (404) 562-7886
Fax: (404) 562-7881
TDD: (404) 331-2867
Email: OCRComplaint@hhs.gov
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
The rest of this Notice describes the ways we may use and disclose your protected health information. Generally, we will only use and disclose your protected health information as authorized by you or as required or permitted by law. Although not every specific use or disclosure is listed, the reasons for which we are permitted or required by law to use or disclose your protected health information generally will fall under one of the categories described below. HIPAA generally does not take precedence over State or other applicable privacy laws that provide individuals with greater privacy protections. As a result, when a State law requires us to impose stricter standards to protect your protected health information, we will follow State law instead of HIPAA.
Treatment: We may use and disclose your protected health information to provide health care treatment to you. For example, information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of your health care team will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you. Your physician will document in your record his or her expectations of the members of your health care team. Members of your health care team will then record the actions they took and their observations. In that way, the physician will know how you are responding to treatment.
We will also provide your physician or a subsequent health care provider with copies of various reports that should assist him or her in treating you.
Payment: We may use and disclose your protected health information to obtain payment for services. For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payer. The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used.
Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your protected health information in performing business activities, or “health care operations.” For example, members of the medical staff, the risk or quality improvement manager, or members of the quality improvement team may use your protected health information to assess the care and outcomes in your case and others like it. This information will then be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the healthcare and service we provide.
Business associates: We may arrange for other individuals and entities, referred to as “Business Associates”, to perform various functions and activities on our behalf and to provide certain services. Examples include physician services in the emergency department and radiology, certain laboratory tests, and a copy service we use when making copies of your health record. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your protected health information to our business associates so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do and bill you or your third-party payer for services rendered. To protect your protected health information, however, we require our business associates to appropriately safeguard your information.
Directory: Unless you notify us that you object, we may use your name, location in the facility, general condition, and religious affiliation for directory purposes. This information may be provided to members of the clergy and, except for religious affiliation, to other people who ask for you by name.
Notification: We may use or disclose your protected health information to notify, or assist in notifying, a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, of your location, your general condition or your death as long as you have either agreed to the use or disclosure or have not objected after being given the opportunity. If you are not present or are unable to agree (for example, due to your incapacity or an emergency), then we may use our professional judgment to determine whether the use or disclosure is in your best interest.
Communication with family: We may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any other person you identify, protected health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care if you have either agreed to the disclosure or have not objected after being given the opportunity. If you are not present or are unable to agree (for example, due to your incapacity or an emergency), then we may use our professional judgment to determine whether the use or disclosure is in your best interest.
Research: We may disclose your protected health information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board (or other appropriate privacy board) that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your protected health information.
Funeral directors: We may disclose your protected health information to funeral directors consistent with applicable law and as necessary to carry out their duties.
Organ procurement organizations: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose your protected health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of facilitating organ or tissue donation and transplant.
Appointment Reminders and Treatment Alternatives: We may contact you to provide you with appointment reminders, information about treatment alternatives, or information about other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
Fund-raising: We may contact you as part of a fund-raising effort.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA): We may disclose your protected health information to a representative of the FDA to report adverse events (with respect to food or dietary supplements) or product defects or problems (including problems with the use or labeling of a product), to conduct post marketing surveillance and to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.
Workers’ compensation: We may disclose your protected health information to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation or other similar programs established by law.
Public health: We may disclose your protected health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.
Law enforcement: We may disclose your protected health information for law enforcement purposes in certain circumstances, for example, in response to a valid subpoena or other legal process or to help a law enforcement official identify or locate certain individuals.
Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence: We may disclose your protected health information to appropriate governmental authorities as allowed by law if we believe that you may be a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your protected health information so that government agencies can monitor and oversee the healthcare system and government benefit programs and be sure that certain healthcare entities are following regulatory programs or civil rights laws they should.
Judicial or Administrative Proceedings: We may disclose your protected health information as required for judicial and administrative proceedings. For example, if you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose your protected health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose your protected health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process from someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts are made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
Coroners and Medical Examiners: We may disclose your protected health information to a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death or for performing other duties as authorized by law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use or disclose your protected health information in accordance with applicable law, if we believe the use or disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and immediate threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.
Specialized Government Functions: If you are or were a member of the armed forces, we may disclose your protected health information as required by military command authorities. We may also disclose protected health information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority. In addition, we may disclose your protected health information to authorized federal officials for national security and intelligence activities.
Correctional Institutions: If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or in the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release your protected health information to the correctional institution or law enforcement official if the disclosure is necessary to provide you with health care, to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others, or for the safety and security of the correctional institution.
Disaster Relief: We may use or disclose your protected health information in order to assist in disaster relief efforts if you have either agreed to the disclosure or have not objected after being given the opportunity. If you are not present or are unable to agree (for example, due to your incapacity or an emergency) then we may use our professional judgment to determine whether the disclosures are in your best interest.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: We are required to disclose your protected health information to the Department of Health and Human Services when it is investigating or determining our compliance with HIPAA.
Required by Law: We may use or disclose your protected health information to the extent that such use or disclosure is required by law, and the use or disclosure of this information is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
Disclosures pursuant to your authorization: Most uses or disclosures of your PHI for marketing purposes, the disclosure of any psychotherapy notes, and the disclosure of PHI by sale, require your prior written authorization. Further, the use or disclosure of your PHI not described in this Notice will require your written authorization.
Exception to these Permitted Uses and Disclosures – Communicable Diseases:
If you have one of several specific communicable diseases (for example, tuberculosis, syphilis, or HIV/AIDS), North Carolina law requires that information about your disease be treated as confidential, and such information will be disclosed without your written permission only in limited circumstances. We may not need to obtain your permission to report information about your communicable disease to State and local officials, or to otherwise use or disclose information in order to protect against the spread of the disease. Also, we may disclose such information without your consent to health care personnel who provide medical care to you.
Special Provisions for Minors under North Carolina Law: Under North Carolina law, minors, with or without the consent of a parent or guardian, have the right to consent to services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of certain illnesses, including venereal disease and other diseases that must be reported to the State, pregnancy, abuse of controlled substances or alcohol, and emotional disturbance. If you are a minor and you consent to one of these services, you have all the authority and rights included in this Notice relating to that service. In addition, the law permits certain minors to be treated as adults for all purposes. These minors have all rights and authority included in this Notice for all services.
Disclosure to Health Information Exchanges: RNA/RNI participates in the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Network, called NC HealthConnex, which is operated by the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (“NC HIEA”). We will share your protected health information with the NC HIEA and may use NC HealthConnex to access your protected health information to assist us in providing health care to you. We are required by law to submit clinical and demographic data pertaining to services paid for with funds from North Carolina programs like Medicaid and State Health Plan. We may also share other patient data with NC HealthConnex not paid for with State funds. If you do not want NC HealthConnex to share your protected health information with other health care providers who are participating in NC HealthConnex, you must opt out by submitting a form directly to the NC HIEA. Brochures about NC HealthConnex are available in our offices and online at NCHealthConnex.gov. You may also contact our Privacy Office at (919)782-3456. Even if you opt out of NC HealthConnex, we are still required to submit your protected health information if your health care services are funded by State programs, and NC HIEA will still be able to use and disclose for public health or research purposes as permitted or required by law. For more information on NC HealthConnex, please visit NCHealthConnex.gov/patients. RNA/RNI also automatically shares protected health information through various record sharing networks. If you wish to opt out of these, please contact our Privacy Office at (919)782-3456.
You can download a copy of our Privacy Policy below in either English or Spanish. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file. Acrobat Reader is free and can be obtained from the Adobe site.