HOLY CROSS HEALTH MINISTRIES

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

SUMMARY

HCHM is required by law to follow the practices described in the Notice of Privacy Practices located throughout HCHM and available to all patients.  The summary you are now reading does not replace the full version of our Notice of Privacy Practices which has been provided to you. This Notice applies to protected health information about you that we maintain in both paper and electronic media.  With some exceptions, we must obtain your authorization to disclose (or release) your protected health information.  There are some situations in which we do not have to obtain your authorization.  We may use your protected health information and share it with certain providers who are members of an organized health care arrangement with HCHM.  Neither this summary nor the full Notice of Privacy Practices covers every possible use or disclosure.  If you have any questions, please contact our Privacy Officer, Natalie J. Caudill at 954-771-8000.

WHO HAS ACCESS TO YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION:

Protected health information about you may be used to:

• Plan your treatment and services.  This includes releasing information to qualified HCHM professionals who are involved in your care or treatment.  It may also include provider agencies whom we pay to provide services for you.  We will only release as little as possible for them to do their job.
• Submit bills to your insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or third party payor.
• Obtain approval in advance from your insurance company.
• Collect information from Social Security, Employment Security or Social Services to determine your ability to pay.
• Measure our quality of services.
• Decide if we should offer more or fewer services to customers.
• Exchange information with other State agencies as required by law.
• Without your authorization, we may use your protected health information to:
• Treat you in an emergency.
• Treat you when there is something that prevents us from communicating with you.
•  Send you appointment reminders.
• Inform you about possible treatment options.
• For agencies involved in a disaster situation.
• For certain types of research.
• When there is a serious public health or safety threat to you or others.
• As required by State, Federal or local law.  This includes investigations, audits, inspections and licensure.
• When ordered to do so by a court.
• To law enforcement if you are a victim of a crime, involved in a crime at HCHM, or you have threatened to commit a crime.
• To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral homes when necessary for them to do their jobs.
• To Federal officials involved in security activities authorized by law.
• To the correctional facility if you are an inmate.

What are your rights? 

• To see and get a copy of your record (with some exceptions).
• To appeal if we decide not to let you see all or some parts of your record.
• To request an amendment to your record if you believe you see a mistake or something that is not complete.  You must make this request in writing.  We may deny your request if;
• We did not create the entry that is wrong; or
• The information is not part of the file we keep; or
• The information is not part of the file that we would let you see; or 
• We believe the record is accurate and complete.

• To know to whom we have sent information about you for up to the last six years.  The first request in a 12 month period is free.  We may charge you for additional requests.
• To limit how we use or disclose information about you.  For example, not to release information to your spouse or a particular provider agency.  This must be made in writing, and we are not required to agree to the request.
• To ask that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location.  This request must be made in writing.
• To authorize other releases of your protected health information not described above.  You may change your mind and remove the authorization at any time (in writing).
• To have a paper copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices.
• To file a complaint if you believe any of your rights have been violated.  All complaints must be in writing and addressed to HCHM’s Privacy Officer.  You will not be penalized if you file a complaint.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, or to file a complaint, you should contact HCHM’s  Privacy Officer.

NPP Summary Revised 07/15/04