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The Meadows values you as a client and respects your right to privacy. We pledge our commitment to treating your information responsibly. We restrict access to your health information within The Meadows to those employees who need to know in order to provide appropriate treatment or services to you or to conduct The Meadows business on your behalf. The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires all health care records and other individually identifiable health information (protected health information or PHI) used or disclosed to us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, be kept confidential. The federal law gives you, the client, significant rights to understand and control how health information is used. 
We are required by applicable federal HIPAA law to maintain the privacy of your health information, except where federal and state regulations apply regarding ongoing child and/or vulnerable adult abuse. We are also required to give you this Statement about our privacy policy, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. This Statement takes effect on 4/14/03.
We are required to abide by the terms of the Privacy Policy Statement in effect. We reserve the right to change our privacy policy and the terms of this Statement at any time, and we may make the changes effective for health information we have already created or received about you, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. Before we make a significant change in our privacy policy that materially affects the information in this Statement, we will change this Statement and make the new Statement available to you. We will provide you with a revised Statement in printed form. For more information about our privacy policy, or for additional copies of this Statement, please contact us by using the information listed at the end of this Statement. 
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose health information about you only under a signed release. Treatment: We may use or disclose your health information for your treatment, such as to a doctor or other healthcare provider providing treatment toa you. Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you, such as to obtain reimbursement for services we provided. Your Authorization: You may give us a written release to use your health information for any purpose that you deem necessary. If you give us a release, you may revoke it in writing at any time. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosures permitted by your release while it was in effect. Individuals Involved: In Your Care or Payment for Care With your signed release, your health information may be disclosed to a family member, friend or other person to help with your healthcare. Marketing Communications: We will not use your health related information for marketing communications. Research: We do not disclose health information for research purposes without your written consent. Information without client identifiable data may be used for generic research. 
Workers’ Compensation and Disability: With your signed release, health information about you may be disclosed for workers’ compensation, disability or similar programs.
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose health information about you without a signed release. Required by Law Federal: State or local law may require us to use or disclose your health information. Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Public Health Risks: We may disclose health information about you for public health activities such as to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; or to report reactions to medications or problems with products. Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our health care operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run The Meadows and to make sure all of our clients receive quality care. Health care operations may also include accreditation and licensing. We may use your information to provide information on services that may be of interest to you. Secretary of Health and Human Services: We are required to disclose your information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when the Secretary is investigating or determining our compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rules. Other Categories: Any category not mentioned would require your signed release prior to use and disclosure. 
Access: You have the right to request to look at or get copies of your health information. You must submit your request in writing to our Privacy Official. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, staff time or other supplies associated with your request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain circumstances. If you are denied access to health information, you may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed health care professional chosen by The Meadows will review your request and the denial. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review.
Amendment: You have the right to request that we amend your health information if you feel the information is incorrect or incomplete. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing explaining why the information should be amended and submitted to our Privacy Official. We may deny your request under certain circumstances. Restrictions: You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information. We are not required to agree to any restriction that you may request. If we do agree to the restriction, we will comply with the restriction unless the information is needed to provide emergency treatment to you or unless the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted by law. Disclosure Accounting: You have the right to receive a list of instances in which we disclosed your health information during the last 6 years, but not before April 14, 2003. If you request this accounting more than once in a 12 month period, we may charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee for responding to these additional requests. Alternative Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or alternative locations. Your request must be made in writing and must specify the alternative means or location, and provide satisfactory explanation of how payments will be handled under the alternative means or location you request. Paper Copy of Statement: If you requested or agreed to receive this notice electronically, you have the right to a paper copy of this Statement. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. You may obtain the Statement on our website at www.themeadows.org or from our Privacy Official. 
If you are concerned that we may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made regarding your health information, you may express your written complaint to us or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at the address below. Our Privacy Official: If you want more information about our privacy policy or have questions or concerns, please contact us. Our Privacy Official can be contacted at: 
The MeadowsPrivacy Official 1655 N. Tegner St. Wickenburg, Arizona 85390 928.684.3926 800.meadows U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: If you would like to submit a complaint directly to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, please send it to the following address: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 877.696.6775 We support your right to privacy of your health information. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. |
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