NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
PROTECTING YOUR CONFIDENTIAL HEALTH INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO US
Notice of Privacy Practices
This notice describes how health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Our Promise
We want you to know that Oralieve will make every effort to protect the confidentiality of your health information, and we are taking the new Federal HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws very seriously. We do not ever want you to
delay treatment because you are afraid your personal health history might be
unnecessarily made available to others outside our office.
So what has changed?
Why a privacy policy now?
Very good questions!
The most significant variable that has motivated the Federal government to
legally enforce the importance of the privacy of health information is the rapid
evolution of computer technology and its use in healthcare. The government has
appropriately sought to standardize and protect the privacy of the electronic
exchange of your health information. This has challenged us to review not only
how your health information is used within our computers but also with the
Internet, phone, faxes, copy machines, and charts. We believe this has been an
important exercise for us because it has disciplined us to put in writing the
policies and procedures we use to ensure the protection of your health
information everywhere it is used.
We want you to know about these policies and procedures which we developed to
make sure your health information will not be shared with anyone who does not
require it. Our office is subject to State and Federal law regarding the
confidentiality of your health information and in keeping with these laws; we
want you to understand our procedures and your rights as our valuable patient.
We will use and communicate your HEALTH
INFORMATION only for the
purposes of providing your treatment, obtaining payment and conducting health
care operations. Your health information will not be used for other purposes
unless we have asked for and been voluntarily given your written permission.
PROTECTING YOUR CONFIDENTIAL HEALTH INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO US
HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED:
To Provide Treatment
We will use your HEALTH
INFORMATION within our office
to provide you with the best dental care possible. This may include
administrative and clinical office procedures designed to optimize scheduling
and coordination of care between hygienist, dental assistant, dentist, and
business office staff. In addition, we may share your health information with
physicians, referring dentists, clinical and dental laboratories, pharmacies or
other health care personnel providing you treatment.
To Obtain Payment
We may include your health information with an invoice used to collect
payment for treatment you receive in our office. We may do this with insurance
forms filed for you in the mail or sent electronically. We will be sure to only
work with companies with a similar commitment to the security of your health
information.
To Conduct Health Care Operations
Your health information may be used during performance evaluations of our
staff. Some of our best teaching opportunities use clinical situations
experienced by patients receiving care at our office. As a result, health
information may be included in training programs for students, interns,
associates, and business and clinical employees. It is also possible that health
information will be disclosed during audits by insurance companies or government
appointed agencies as part of their quality assurance and compliance reviews.
Your health information may be reviewed during the routine processes of
certification, licensing or credentialing activities.
In Patient Reminders
Because we believe regular care is very important to your oral and general
health, we will remind you of a scheduled appointment or that it is time for you
to contact us and make an appointment. Additionally, we may contact you to
follow up on your care and inform you of treatment options or services that may
be of interest to you or your family.
These communications are an important part of our philosophy of partnering
with our patients to be sure they receive the best preventive and restorative
care modern dentistry can provide. They may include postcards, folding
postcards, letters, telephone reminders or electronic reminders such as email
(unless you tell us that you do not want to receive these reminders).
Abuse or Neglect
We will notify government authorities if we believe a patient is the victim
of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will make this disclosure only when
we are compelled by our ethical judgment, when we believe we are specifically
required or authorized by law or with the patient’s agreement.
Public Health and National Security
We may be required to disclose to Federal officials or military authorities
health information necessary to complete an
investigation related to public health or national security. Health information
could be important when the government believes that the public safety could
benefit when the information could lead to the control or prevention of an
epidemic or understanding of new side effects of a drug treatment or medical
device.
For Law Enforcement
As permitted or required by State or Federal law, we may disclose your health
information to a law enforcement official for certain law enforcement purposes,
including, under certain circumstances, if you are a victim of a crime or in
order to report a crime.
Family, Friends and Caregivers
We may share your health information with those you tell us will be helping
you with your home hygiene, treatment, medications, or payment. We will be sure
to ask your permission first, in the case of an emergency, where you are unable
to tell us what you want we will use our very best judgment when sharing your
health information only when it will be important to those participating in
providing your care.
Authorization to Use or Disclose Health Information
Other than is state above or where Federal, State or Local law requires us,
we will not disclose your health information other than with your written
authorization. You may revoke that authorization in writing at any time.
PATIENT RIGHTS:
This new law is careful to describe that you have the following rights
related to your health information.
Restrictions
You have the right to request
restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. Our
office will make every effort to honor reasonable restriction preferences from
our patients.
Confidential Communications
You have the right to request
that we communicate with you in a certain way. You may request that we only
communicate your health information privately with no other family members
present or through mailed communications that are sealed. We will make every
effort to honor your reasonable requests for confidential communications.
Inspect and Copy Your Health Information
You have the right to read,
review and copy your health information, including your complete char, x-rays
and billing records. If you would like a coy of your health information, please
let us know. We may need to charge you a reasonable fee to duplicate and
assemble your copy.
Amend Your Health Information
You have the right to ask us to update or modify your records if you
believe your health information records are incorrect or incomplete. We will be
happy to accommodate you as long as our office maintains this information. In
order to standardize our process, please provide us with your request in writing
and describe your reason for the change.
Your request may be denied if the health information record in question was
not created by our office, is not part of our records or if the records
containing your health information are determined to be accurate and complete.
Documentation of Health Information
You have the right to ask us for a description of how and where your
health information was used by our office for any reason other than for
treatment, payment or health operations. Our documentation procedures will
enable us to provide information on health information usage from April 14,
2003, and forward. Please let us know in writing the time period for which you
are interested. Thank you for limiting your request to no more than six years at
a time. We may need to charge you a reasonable fee for your request.
Request a Paper copy of this Notice
Will be sure all of our patients receive a copy of the revised Notice at the
time the change would affect any individual. You have the right to obtain a
copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices directly from our office at any time.
Stop by or give us a call and we will mail, or email a copy to you.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and
to provide to you and your representative this Notice of Privacy Practices. We
are required to practice the policies and procedures described in this notice
but we do reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice.
You have the right to express complaints to us or to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been
compromised. We encourage you to express any concerns you may have regarding the
privacy of your information. Please let us know of your concerns or complaints
in writing.
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