YOUR CHOICES - For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in situations described below, talk to us.
- In these cases you have both the right and the choice to tell us to: share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care and share information in a disaster relief situation.
If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
-
In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:
- Marketing purposes
- Sale of your information
- Most sharing of psychotherapy notes
- In the case of fundraising, we may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.
OUR USES AND DISCLOSURE – We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:
Treatment: We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you. Example: we may share your health information to an outside doctor for referral. We will also provide your health care providers with copies of various reports to assist them in your treatment.
Payment: We can use or share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities. Example: we give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your healthcare.
Health Care Operations: We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. Example: we use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.
Other ways we can use or share your health information – We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes.
-
Help with public health and safety issues: We can share health information about you for certain situations such as: preventing disease, helping with product recalls, reporting adverse reactions to medication, reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, and preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health and safety.
-
Comply with the law: We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see if we are complying with federal privacy law.
-
Respond to organ and tissue donation requests: We will share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.
-
Work with a medical examiner or funeral director: We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when you die.
-
Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests:
- For workers’ compensation claims
- For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
- With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
- For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services
-
Respond to lawsuits and legal actions: We can share your health information to respond to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
-
Research: We can use or share your information for health research.
