Notice of Privacy Practices

This medical practice collects medical and related identifiable patient information, such as billing information, claims information, referral information, and health-plan information. We store it in a chart, in administrative or billing files, and on a computer. This information is considered protected health information (PHI) under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

How we may use and disclose your information

1. Treatment

We use medical information to provide medical care. We disclose medical information to our employees and others who are involved in providing the care our patients need. For example, we may share medical information with physicians or other health care providers who will provide services that we do not provide. We may share information with a pharmacist who needs it to dispense a prescription or a laboratory that performs a test. We may also disclose medical information to members of a patient's family or others who can help when the patient is sick or injured.

2. Payment

We use and disclose PHI to obtain payment for the services we provide. For example, we give health plans the information they require before they will pay us. We may also disclose information to other health care providers to assist them in obtaining payment for services they have provided to our patients.

3. Health care operations

We may use and disclose PHI to operate this medical practice. We may use this information to review and improve the quality of care we provide or the competence and qualifications of our professional staff; obtain health-plan authorization for services or referrals; conduct medical reviews, legal services, and audits; support fraud and abuse detection and compliance programs; and perform business planning and management.

We may share PHI with business associates, such as a billing service, that perform administrative services for us. We have a written contract with each business associate requiring it to protect the confidentiality of PHI. Under California law, recipients of health care information are prohibited from redisclosing it except as specifically required or permitted by law.

We may also share PHI with health care providers, clearinghouses, or health plans that have a relationship with one of our patients when they request information for quality assessment and improvement, efforts to improve health or reduce health care costs, professional review, training, accreditation, certification or licensing, or health care fraud and abuse detection and compliance. We may share PHI with our professional liability carrier for our defense or its ongoing quality review of the practice.

We may also share PHI with health care providers, health care clearinghouses, and health plans participating in organized health care arrangements. Our Privacy Official maintains a current list of these arrangements, including relevant hospitals, IPAs, and health plans in which this medical practice participates.

4. Appointment reminders

We may use and disclose medical information to contact and remind our patients about appointments.

5. Required by law

As required by law, we will use and disclose our patients' health information, but we will limit our use or disclosure to the relevant requirements of the law. When the law requires us to report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, respond to judicial or administrative proceedings, or respond to law-enforcement officials, we will comply with the applicable legal requirements.

6. Other uses of PHI

Other uses and disclosures of PHI not covered by this notice and not otherwise permitted by applicable law will be made only with your written authorization or that of your legal representative. You or your legally authorized representative may revoke that authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already taken action in reliance on it. We cannot take back disclosures already made with authorization.

Your rights regarding PHI we maintain about you

Right to inspect and copy your PHI

In most cases, you have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI that we maintain about you. You must submit your request in writing and allow us up to 30 days to make necessary arrangements. You may be charged a fee for copying, mailing, or supplies associated with your request.

Certain types of PHI may not be available for inspection and copying, including PHI collected in connection with, or in reasonable anticipation of, a claim or legal proceeding. In limited circumstances, we may deny your request. If we do, you may request a review by an individual who was not involved in the original decision. We will comply with the outcome of that review.

Right to amend your PHI

If you believe that your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to ask us to amend it while it is maintained by or for us. Your written request must include a reason supporting the amendment. We may deny a request that is not in writing, does not include a supporting reason, or concerns information that is accurate and complete, was not created by us, is not part of the PHI maintained by or for us, or is not information you would be permitted to inspect and copy.

Right to request confidential communications

You have the right to request that we communicate with you about PHI in a certain way or at a certain location if communication in another manner may endanger you. For example, you may request that we contact you only at work or by mail. Your written request must state where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to file a complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us by contacting the office manager. Complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint. If you have questions, please call (818) 597-9300.

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