Privacy Policy and HIPAA Compliance
AfterOurs, Inc. is very sensitive to privacy issues. We respect your right to privacy and feel it is important for you to know how we handle the information we receive from you via the Internet. Additionally, our online and offline business practices are in full compliance with the privacy requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Protecting Your Confidential Information
We have taken precautionary measures to make all information received from our online visitors as secure as possible against unauthorized access and use. We do not sell your information to companies.
NOTICE OF HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY PRACTICES
this notice describes how medical information about you may be used and
disclosed and how you can get access to this information. please review it
carefully.
AfterOurs, Inc
(The Practice) is required to maintain the privacy of your health
information and to provide you with a notice of its legal duties and privacy
practices. The Practice will not use or disclose your health information
except as described in this Notice. This Notice applies to all of the
medical records generated by the Practice, as well as records we receive
from other providers.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Consent:
With your consent, the Practice may use and disclose your health information
for the following purposes.
Treatment:
The Practice may use your health information in the provision and
coordination of your healthcare. We may disclose all or any portion of your
medical record information to your attending physician, consulting
physician(s), nurses, technicians, medical students, and other health care
providers who have a legitimate need for such information in your care and
treatment. Different departments may share health information about you in
order to coordinate specific services, such as prescriptions, lab work and
x-rays. The Practice also may disclose your health information to people
outside the Practice who may be involved in your medical care after you
leave the Practice, such as family members, clergy and others used to
provide services that are part of your care. Other ways we may use or
disclose your health information for purposes related to treatment are:
·
Treatment Alternatives:
To tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives
that may be of interest to you.
Payment:
The Practice may release health information about you for the purposes of
determining coverage, billing, claims management, medical data processing,
and reimbursement. The information may be released to an insurance company,
third party payer or other entity (or their authorized representatives)
involved in the payment of your medical bill and may include copies or
excerpts of your medical record which are necessary for payment of your
account. For example, a bill sent to a third party payer may include
information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and the procedures and
supplies used. We may also provide payment information to other care
providers who have been involved in your care, e.g., an ambulance company.
Routine Healthcare Operations:
The Practice may use and disclose your health information during routine
healthcare operations, including quality assurance, utilization review,
medical review, internal auditing, accreditation, certification, licensing
or credentialing activities of the Practice, medical research and
educational purposes. The Practice may engage outside companies to carry
out certain aspects of routine healthcare operations. These entities are
called the “business associates” of the Practice. The Practice may need to
disclose your health information to the business associates to allow them to
perform their duties. The business associates will, in turn, use and
disclose your health information as they conduct business on the [Hospital’s][Practice’s]
behalf. Examples of business associates, include, but are not limited to, a
copy service used by the Practice to copy medical records, consultants,
accountants, lawyers, medical transcriptionists and third-party billing
companies. The [Hospital] [Practice] requires the business associate to
protect the confidentiality of your health information.
·
Hospital Only - Fundraising:
To contact you in an effort to raise money for the Hospital and its
operations. The Hospital may disclose certain health information to a
foundation related to the Hospital so that the Foundation may contact you in
raising money for the Hospital. The information released would only be
contact information, such as your name, address, phone number and the dates
you received treatment or services at the Hospital. If you do not want the
Hospital to contact you for fundraising efforts, please let us know in
writing.]
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization:
The
Practice may not disclose your health information to persons outside of the
Practice for purposes other than treatment, payment or healthcare operations
without your authorization. In addition, the Practice may not use or
disclose psychotherapy notes written by your mental health provider, if any,
without your authorization, even for treatment, payment or healthcare
operations. You have the right to revoke any authorization you have
previously given by submitting a written statement of revocation to the
Practice.
USES AND DISCLOSURES TO WHICH YOU MAY OBJECT:
Family/Friends:
The Practice may disclose your health information to a friend or family
member who is involved in your medical care. We may also give information
to someone who helps pay for your care. [We may also tell your family or
friends of your condition and that you are in the Hospital.] In addition,
we may disclose health information about you to an entity assisting in a
disaster relief effort so that your family can be notified about your
condition, status and location. If you have any objection to the use and
disclosure of your health information in this manner, please tell us.
Hospital Only - Directory:
The Hospital may include certain limited information about you in the
Hospital directory while you are a patient at the Hospital. This
information may include your name, location in the Hospital, your general
condition (e.g., fair, stable, etc.) and your religious affiliation. This
is so your family and friends can visit you in the Hospital and generally
know how you are doing. The directory information, except for your
religious affiliation, may also be released to people who ask for you by
name. Your religious affiliation may be given to a member of the clergy,
such as a priest or rabbi, even if they don’t ask for you by name. If you
have any objection to the limited use or disclosure of information in this
manner, please tell us.
USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT ARE REQUIRED OR PERMITTED WITHOUT CONSENT OR
AUTHORIZATION
Research:
Under
certain circumstances, the [Hospital] [Practice] may use and disclose your
health information to approved clinical research studies. While most
clinical research studies require specific patient consent, there are some
instances where a retrospective record review with no patient contact may be
conducted by such researchers. For example, the research project may
involve comparing the health and recovery of patients who received one
medication for their medical condition to those who received a different
medication for that same condition.
Regulatory Agencies:
The
Practice may disclose your health information to government and certain
private health oversight agencies, e.g., the Department of Public Health and
Environment, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations or the Board of Medical Examiners, for activities authorized
by law, including, but not limited to, licensure, certification, audits,
investigations and inspections. These activities are necessary to monitor
compliance with the requirements of government programs.
Law Enforcement/Litigation:
The
Practice may disclose your health information for law enforcement purposes
as required by law or in response to a court order.
Public Health:
As
required by law, the Practice may disclose your health information to public
health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease,
injury or disability. For example, the Practice is required to report the
existence of a communicable disease, such as acquired immune deficiency
syndrome ("AIDS"), to the Department of Public Health and Environment to
protect the health and well-being of the general public.
Workers’ Compensation:
The
Practice may release health information about you for workers' compensation
or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related
injuries or illnesses.
Military/Veterans:
The Practice may disclose your health information as required by military
command authorities, if you are a member of the armed forces.
As Otherwise Required by Law:
The Practice will disclose your health information in any situation in which
such disclosure is required by law (e.g., child abuse, domestic abuse).
Your rights related to your health information:
Although all records concerning your treatment obtained at the Practice are
the property of the Practice, you have the following rights concerning your
health information:
Right to Confidential Communications:
You
have the right to receive confidential communications of your health
information by alternative means or at alternative locations. For example,
you may request that the Practice only contact you at work or by mail.
Right to Inspect and Copy:
You generally have the right to inspect and copy your health information,
except as restricted by your physician or by law.
Right to Amend:
You have the right to request an amendment or correction to your health
information. If we agree that an amendment or correction is appropriate, we
will ensure that the amendment or correction is attached to your medical
record.
Right to an Accounting:
You
have the right to obtain a statement of the disclosures that have been made
of your health information other than by your authorization, other than to
you and other than for the purpose of treatment, payment or routine
operational purposes.
Right to Request Restrictions:
You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures
of your health information. If we are able to agree to your request, we
will abide by the restrictions.
Right to Receive Copy of this Notice:
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice, upon request, if
this Notice has been provided to you electronically.
Right to Revoke Consent or
Authorization:
You
have the right to revoke your consent or authorization to use or disclose
your health information, except to the extent that action has already been
taken in reliance on your consent or authorization.
For More Information Regarding How to Exercise These Rights:
If you have questions or would like more information regarding any of the
rights listed above, please contact: AfterOurs 1900
Grant Street Suite 1000. Denver CO 80203. (303) 861-7878
If You Believe That Your rights Have Been Violated:
You may file a complaint with the Practice or with the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with the
Practice, please contact: Danielle Schenfeld at (303) 861-7878
1900 Grant Street Suite 1000. Denver CO 80203. All complaints must be
submitted in writing. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.
changes to this notice:
The Practice will abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect. The
Practice reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time.
Any new notice provisions will be effective for all protected health
information that it maintains. The Practice will mail any revised Notice to
the address indicated on the [General Admission Agreement] [Patient
Information Forms] or such other address you may provide to us from time to
time.
notice effective date:
The effective date of the Notice is 10/05/2005.
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