Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy


Notice of Privacy Practices
 

Rossmoor Medical Associates & Aesthetics

 

This notice describes how your medical information as a patient of this practice may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

 

Please review it carefully.

The privacy of your medical information is important to us. You may be aware the U.S. government regulators established a privacy rule, the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) governing protected health information (“PHI”). PHI includes individually identifiable health information including demographic information and relates to your past, present or future physical and mental health or condition and related health care services. This notice tells you about how your PHI may be used, and about certain rights that you have.

 

Use and Disclosure of Protected Information

  • Federal law provides that we may use your PHI for your treatment, without further specific notice to you, or written authorization by you. For example, we may provide laboratory or test data to that specialist. 
  • Federal law provides that we may use your medical information to obtain payment for our services without further specific notice to you, or written authorization by you. For example, under a health plan, we are required to provide the health insurance company with a diagnosis code for your visit and a description of the services rendered.
  • Federal law provides that we may use your medical information for health care operations without further specific notice to you, or written authorization by you. For example, we may use the information to evaluate the quality of care you received from us, or to conduct cost-management and business planning activities for our practice.
  • We may use or disclose your medical information, without further notice to you, or specific authorization by you, where:
  • required for public health purposes
  • required by a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law, such as the Department of Health, Office of Professional Discipline or Office of Professional Medical Conduct
  • required by law in judicial or administrative proceedings
  • required for law enforcement purposes by a law enforcement official 
  • required by a coroner or medical examiner
  • permitted by law to a funeral director
  • permitted by law for organ donation purposes
  • permitted by law to avert a serious threat to health or safety
  • permitted by law and required by military authorities if you are a member of the armed forced of the U.S.
  • required for national security, as authorized by law
  • required by correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under the custody of a law enforcement official
  • o   otherwise required or permitted by law.
  • Certain types of uses and disclosures of protected health information require authorization, these include:
  • uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes
  • uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes; and
  • disclosures that constitute the sale of PHI.
  • Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice of Privacy Practices will be made only with an individual’s authorization.

 

State Specific Laws

 

In any instance in which California Law is more restrictive than Federal HIPAA regulations, the guidelines under California law will prevail.

 

We may contact you by mail or phone, at your residence, to remind you of appointments or to provide information about treatment alternatives. Unless you instruct us otherwise, we may leave a message for you on any answering device or with any person who answers the phone at your residence.

 

Rights That You Have

 

  • You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures described above. Except as stated below, we are not required to agree to such restrictions.
  • You have the right to request confidential communications. You have the right to request that our practice communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain location e.g. at home and not at work. Such requests must be made in writing to your physician. Our practice will accommodate reasonable requests.
  • You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your medical information (a reasonable fee will be charged).
  • You have the right to request amendments to your medical information. Such requests must be in writing, and must state the reason for the requested amendment. We will notify you as to whether we agree or disagree with the requested amendment. If we disagree with any requested amendment, we will further notify you of your rights.
  • You have the right to request an accounting of any disclosures we make of your medical information. This is a list of certain non-routine disclosures our practice has made of your health information for non-treatment, payment or health care operations purposes. An accounting does not have to be made for disclosures we make to you, or to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations, or as requested by your written authorization, or as permitted or required under 45 CFR 164.502, or for emergency or notification purposes, or for national security or intelligence purposes as permitted by law, or to correctional facilities or law enforcement officials as permitted by law, or disclosures made before April 14, 2003.
  • You have the right to restrict certain disclosures of Protected Health Information to a health plan, for carrying out payment or health care operations, where you pay out of pocket in full for the healthcare item or service (only healthcare providers are required to include such a statement; other covered entities may retain the existing language indicating that a Covered Entity is NOT required to agree to a requested restriction.)
  • You are required to notify a Business Associate and a downstream Health Information Exchange of the restriction
  • A family member or other third party may make the payment on your behalf and the restriction will still be triggered
  • You have a right to, or will receive, notifications of breaches of your unsecured patient health information.
  • All requests must state a time period, which may not be longer than six (6) years from the date of disclosure.
  • You have a right to receive a paper copy of our notice of privacy policies.
  • You have a right to receive electronic copies of health information.

 

 

Obligations That We Have

 

  • We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. We are required to abide by the terms of this notice as long as it is currently in effect.
  • We reserve the right to revise this notice, and to make a new notice effective for all protected health information we maintain. Any revised notice will be posted in our office, and copies will be available there.
  • We will inform you of our intentions to raise funds and your right to opt out of receiving such communications.
  • If you believe these privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). We will provide the address of the OCR Regional Office upon your request. No retaliation will occur against you for filing a complaint.

 

Organization Contact Information

 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT:

Organization Name: Rossmoor Medical Associates & Aesthetics

Address: 1210 Rossmoor Pkwy, Walnut Creek, CA 94595

Telephone Number: (925) 933-1210

Contact Person: Office Manager

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