Consolidated Health Services

American Nursing Care, Reid-ANC, Amerimed, Community Home Care Services, Patient Transport Services

 

Notice of Privacy Practices

 

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND
HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION.

PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Consolidated Health Services is providing this Notice of Privacy Practices because the privacy of your health information is very important to you and to us. Providing you with this notice is needed to comply with federal regulations.

By "your health information" we mean the information that we maintain that specifically identifies you and your health status.

 

 

 

Summary

This Notice describes how we use your health information within Consolidated Health Services, disclose it outside Consolidated Health Services, and why.

The Notice covers:
bulletUses or disclosures which do not require your written authorization.
bulletUses or disclosures which require your written authorization.
bulletYour rights as a patient to privacy of your health information.
bulletOur duties in protecting your health information.
bulletContact person, complaints, effective date, and acknowledgement.

 

 

 

Uses or disclosures which do not require your written authorization

The following categories describe different ways we may use and disclose your medical information. These are examples and, therefore, not every permitted use and disclosure is listed.

For Treatment. We use your health information to plan, coordinate, and provide your care. We disclose your health information for treatment purposes to physicians and other health care professionals outside our agency involved in your care, such as, a skilled nursing facility or a hospital emergency department.

For Payment. We use your health information to prepare documentation required by your insurance company or HMO or by Medicare or Medicaid. We disclose that part of your health information these organizations require to pay us. We may also provide medical information to other healthcare providers so they may bill for health care

For Health Care Operations. We use or disclose your health information, for example, to improve the quality of our services, to plan better ways of treating patients, and to evaluate staff performance. We may also provide medical information to other healthcare providers who have a relationship with you and need information for their own healthcare operations.

Business Associates. We may disclose medical information about you to our business associates who need the information to provide a service to you.  A business associate is not employed by us but provides a service to you on our behalf, such as a physical therapist, a copying company, or a billing company.

 

Federal, State or Local law requirements. We may disclose medical information about you when required by law.

Federal Government Investigation. We may disclose your medical information when required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with federal regulation.

Public Health Activities. We may disclose medical information, for example to report communicable diseases or death, or for matters involving the Food and Drug Administration.

Reporting of Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence. We are required by the law to report suspected abuse, neglect or domestic violence activities.

Health Oversight Activities by a health oversight agency. (A health oversight agency is an organization authorized by the government to oversee eligibility and compliance and to enforce civil rights laws.)

Lawsuits and Disputes. We may disclose medical information about you in response to a Court Order, Administrative Order or certain subpoenas.

Law Enforcement Purposes. We may release medical information to a law enforcement official for example to report certain types of wounds or other physical injuries or to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person.

Use by Coroners, Medical Examiners, or Funeral Directors. We may release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also release medical information to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.

Averting a Serious Threat to your health or safety or that of the public. We may use and disclose medical information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.

Specialized Government Functions such as military or veterans’ affairs; national security, and intelligence activities. If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities.

Workers' Compensation. We may release medical information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs, which provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Protective Services for the President and Others. We may disclose medical information about you to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized or foreign heads of state or conduct special investigations.

Uses or Disclosures of Your Health Information to Which You May Object

We may use or disclose your health information for the following purposes, unless you ask us not to.
bulletInforming family and friends. We may disclose your health information to family, friends, or others identified by you who are involved in your care or payment for your care.
bulletAssistance in disaster relief efforts. We may disclose your information in a disaster relief effort so that your family can be notified about your condition and location.
bulletConfirming our visits to your home or other appointments.
bulletInforming you about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

If you object to our use of your health information for any of these purposes please contact: Vice President, Professional Services

Uses or disclosures which require your written authorization

The uses and disclosures of your medical information not covered by the Notice or required by the laws that apply to Consolidated Health Services, will be made only with your written permission (your written permission is referred to as an Authorization). You may revoke that permission in writing at any time. Please understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures that we made before we received your written notice revoking your Authorization

Your Rights as A Patient to Privacy of Your Health Information
bulletRight to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request restrictions on our uses and disclosures of your health information, however we may refuse to accept the restriction.

bulletRight to Request Confidential Communications

You have the right to request that we communicate with you confidentially, for example to speak with you only in private; to send mail to an address you designate; or to telephone you at a number you designate. We will make every attempt to honor your request.

bulletRight to Request Access to Your Health Information

You have the right to request access to your health information in order to inspect or copy it. We may deny your request and, if so, you may request a review of the denial. We will make every attempt to honor your request; however, there is a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with you request.

bulletRight to Request an Amendment of Your Health Information

If you feel that the medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request an amendment. Your request must provide a reason for the amendment. We will make every attempt to honor your request; however, we may deny your request, and if so, you may submit a statement of disagreement.

bulletRight to Request an Accounting of Disclosures of Your Health Information

You have the right to request an accounting of our disclosures of your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and health care operations. We will make every attempt to honor your request. We are not required to provide an accounting for disclosures before April 14, 2003. After April 14, 2003, we are required to provide an accounting of disclosure for more than 6 years prior to the date of your request. The first accounting that you request within a twelve- (12) month period will be free. For additional accounting, we may charge you for the cost of providing the list.

bulletRight to Obtain a Paper Copy of this Notice

If you received this Notice electronically, you have the right to receive a paper copy.

 

For details on how to Request Restrictions, how to Request Confidential Communication, how to Request Access to your Health Information, how to Request an Amendment of your Health Information or how to Request an Accounting of Disclosures of your Health Information, contact the Vice President, Professional Services at 531-567-0262. Outside of the 513 area code you may call 1-800-875-2622.

 

 

Our Duties in Protecting Your Health Information
bulletWe are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information.
bulletWe must inform patients or their legal representatives of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information. This Notice discharges that duty.
bulletWe must abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
bulletWe reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all health information that we maintain. At any time, you may obtain a copy of the current notice from our Vice President, Professional Services.

For further information about the matters covered by this Notice you may contact:

Vice President, Professional Services at 513-576-0262. Outside of the 513 area code you may call 1-800-875-2622.

Complaints: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our agency or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

You may file your complaint with our agency by writing to:

Consolidated Health Services 1000 Summit Drive Milford, Ohio 45150 Att.Vice President, Professional Services

.

You may file a complaint with the Secretary of Health and Human Services by writing to:

Secretary of Health and Human Services

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201
(source: www.hhs.gov)

You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

 

This notice is effective April 14, 2003.

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