Notice of privacy practices (notice)

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can access the information. Please review it carefully.

Amazing Home Care is required by law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information (PHI) and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI.

PHI is information that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition and related health care services. This notice describes how Amazing Home Care may use and disclose PHI to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations and for other specified purposes that are permitted or required by law. This notice also describes your rights with respect to your PHI.

YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION RIGHTS

You have the following rights with respect to PHI:

• Obtain a Paper Copy of Notice: Even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy.
• Request a Restriction on certain uses and disclosures of PHI by sending a written request to Amazing Home Care. We are not required to agree to those restrictions if the law does not allow us to comply.
• Inspect and Obtain a Copy of Your PHI contained in a designated record set for as long as Amazing Home Care maintains the PHI. The request should be sent to Amazing Home Care, and you may be charged for the costs of copying and mailing necessary to fulfill your request. In certain limited circumstances, your request may be denied. In such cases, you have the right to request a review of the denial.
• Request an Amendment of PHI if you feel it is incomplete or incorrect by sending a written request to Amazing Home Care. You must include the reason that supports your request. In certain cases, Amazing Home Care may deny your request. You have the right to file a statement of disagreement with the decision, and Amazing Home Care may provide a rebuttal to your statement.
• Receive an Accounting of Disclosures of PHI we have made after April 14, 2003, for most purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. The right to receive accounting is subject to certain exceptions, restrictions, and limitations. Your request must be sent to Amazing Home Care in writing. The time period of notification may not be more than six months. The first request made within a 12-month period will be provided free of charge. You will be notified of any cost. You then have the right to withdraw your request.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed into law to take care of confidential health information as follows:

• Provide continuity and portability of health insurance between jobs.
• Ensure security and privacy of individual’s health information.
• Reduce administrative costs in the health care system.
• Provide uniform standards for electronic health information transactions.
• Provide measures to combat fraud and abuse in the health insurance and health care industry.

Amazing Home Care is a covered entity (CE) under HIPAA. The regulation affects how we:

1. Carry out and ensure patient’s confidentiality and maintain the security of information.
2. Request or obtain health information.
3. Share information with others.

The HIPAA privacy regulations cover and set standards for collecting, sharing, and storing a person’s protected health information (PHI).

PHI is information that:

1. Relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health condition or payment provisions about health care.
2. Identifies the individual in a personal way.
3. Provides a reasonable basis to be used to identify the individuals.
4. Is created or received by a covered entity.

Any information that can identify an individual and relates to his/her health status is considered PHI. It can be created by Amazing Home Care or be received from a third party, such as a physician or anyone requiring services from Amazing Home Care.

PHI disclosure takes place in one of two ways, one requiring authorization from a patient or their representative, and the other not requiring authorization. In cases requiring authorization for disclosure of PHI, Amazing Home Care will verify the legitimacy of the request and the requestor. We will document the request, including oral requests for disclosure, and notify the patient about the request if they are not the requestor. Amazing Home Care will not disclose PHI without appropriate permission from the patient and/or if the permission does not conform to privacy regulations. PHI can be disclosed to a person or persons directly involved in patient care. Authorization for disclosure can be verbal and/or written consent. The patient can revoke such authorization anytime in writing.

Use and Disclosure of PHI

This notice describes how we may use and disclose PHI to third parties for the purpose of:

1. Treatment – (use) and (disclose) laboratory results to other physicians being seen by you, to your physician via mail, phone, or directly.
2. Payment – contacting and billing your insurance company utilizing PHI.
3. Health Care Operations.

Amazing Home Care is prohibited from disclosing your PHI unless state or federal law requires such disclosures or other exceptions, including law enforcement procedures without your consent or authorization as in the following instances:

1. Discussions with individuals involved in your care or in the payment for your care.
2. To city or state health departments if deemed necessary and important in lessening or preventing impending or serious health or safety threats to you or the public.
3. As required by law.
4. Health oversight authorized by law, including audits, investigations, and inspections required for licensure, government monitoring of health care programs, and civil rights issues.
5. Coroners, medical directors, and funeral directors in accordance with the law to carry out their duties and functions.
6. Organ and tissue procurement organizations in accordance with the law to carry out their duties and functions.
7. Judicial and administrative proceedings.
8. Correctional institutions if you become an inmate.
9. Court orders.
10. Assistance in or notification of family members, someone responsible for your care, or your personal representative of your location and condition.
11. Victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to governmental authorities if we reasonably believe you are a victim.
12. Military authorities if you are a member of the Armed Services.
13. National security and intelligence activities to authorized federal officials as authorized by law.

Use of Phone Numbers for SMS/MMS Communications

Amazing Home Care may use the phone numbers you provide to send SMS/MMS communications related to your appointments, health updates, and other important information. By providing your phone number, you consent to receive such communications. You can opt out at any time by replying “STOP” to any SMS/MMS message or contacting us directly. We do not share your phone numbers with any third parties.

Data Security and Sharing

We take the security of your personal information seriously. Your phone numbers and other personal data will not be shared with any third parties and are used solely for communication purposes as described in this notice. We employ various security measures to protect your data and ensure its confidentiality.

Further Information and Problem Reporting

For further information and to report any problems, please contact Mr. Aron Tessler at Amazing Home Care or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.