Notice of 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.
Who We Are
This Notice describes the privacy practice of Advocacy Rehab Services Inc. (as applicable, referred to as "Advocacy" "we" or "us"), including: All speech-language pathologists and other healthcare professionals allowed to enter or access information in your medical record; All employees with access to your medical or billing records or health information about you ("Protected Health Information").
Our Privacy Obligations
We understand that your health information is personal, and we are committed to protecting your privacy. In addition, we are required by law to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information, to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your Protected Health Information, and to notify you in the event of a breach of your unsecured Protected Health Information. When we use or disclose your Protected Health Information, we are required to abide by the terms of this Notice (or other notice in effect at the time of the use or disclosure).
Permissible Uses and Disclosures Without Your Written Authorization
In certain situations, which we will describe in "Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization" below, we must obtain your written authorization in order to use and/or disclose your Protected Health Information. However, unless the Protected Health Information is Highly Confidential Information and the applicable law regulating such information imposes special restrictions on us, we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information without your written authorization for the following purposes: (A) Treatment — to provide speech-language pathology services or consult with your speech therapist; (B) Payment — to obtain payment for health care services; (C) Health Care Operations — internal administration and planning; (D) Disclosure to Relatives, Close Friends and Other Caregivers; (E) As Required by Law; (F) Public Health Activities; (G) Victims of Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence; (H) Health Oversight Activities; (I) Judicial and Administrative Proceedings; (J) Law Enforcement Officials; (K) Decedents; (L) Organ and Tissue Procurement; (M) Clinical Trials and Other Research Activities; (N) Health or Safety; (O) Specialized Government Functions; (P) Workers' Compensation.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization
For any purpose other than the ones described above, we only use or disclose your Protected Health Information when you give us your written authorization. This includes: (A) Marketing — we must obtain your written authorization prior to using your Protected Health Information for marketing purposes; (B) Sale of Protected Health Information — we will not make any disclosure that is a sale of Protected Health Information without your written authorization; (C) Uses and Disclosures of Your Highly Confidential Information — including Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program records and other health information given special privacy protection; (D) Revocation of Your Authorization — you may revoke your authorization by delivering a written revocation statement to us.
Your Individual Rights
(A) For Further Information; Complaints — you may contact us or file written complaints with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; (B) Right to Request Additional Restrictions on our use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information; (C) Right to Receive Communications by Alternative Means or at Alternative Locations; (D) Right to Inspect and Copy Your Health Information; (E) Right to Amend Your Records — please obtain an amendment request form by emailing info@advocacyrehabservices.com; (F) Right to Receive An Accounting of Disclosures; (G) Right to Receive Paper Copy of this Notice.
Changes to This Notice
We may change the terms of this Notice at any time. If we change this Notice, we may make the new notice terms effective for all your Protected Health Information that we maintain, including any information created or received prior to issuing the new notice. If we change this Notice, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this Notice and post the new notice on our website at www.advocacyrehabservices.com.