This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how Lifestyle Precision Medicine may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or business operations and for other purposes permitted or required by law. “Protected health information” (PHI) is information about you that may identify you and relates to your past, present or future physical health or condition, treatment, or payment for health care services. This Notice also describes your rights to access and control your PHI.
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by our health care providers, staff, and others outside our office involved in your care for the purpose of providing health care services, supporting business operations, obtaining payment for your care, and any other use authorized or required by law.
Treatment
We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and related services, including coordination with third parties. For example, your PHI may be provided to a health care provider to whom you have been referred to ensure necessary information is accessible to diagnose or treat you.
Payment
Your protected health information may be used to bill or obtain payment for your health care services. This may include activities your health insurance plan undertakes before approving or paying for services, such as determining eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits and reviewing services for medical necessity.
Health Care Operations
We may use or disclose your protected health information as needed to support the business activities of this office, including improving quality of care, providing information about treatment alternatives, maintaining computer systems, legal services, and conducting audits and compliance programs, including fraud, waste and abuse investigations.
Uses and Disclosures That Do Not Require Your Authorization
We may use or disclose your protected health information without your authorization as required by law; for public health purposes; for health care oversight; for abuse or neglect reporting; pursuant to FDA requirements; in connection with legal proceedings; for law enforcement; to coroners, funeral directors and organ donation agencies; for certain research; for military activity and national security; for workers’ compensation; and other required uses and disclosures.
Under the law, we must make certain disclosures to you upon your request, and when required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate our compliance with HIPAA. State laws may further restrict these disclosures.
Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Authorization
Other permitted and required uses and disclosures will be made only with your consent, authorization or opportunity to object unless permitted or required by law. Without your authorization, we are expressly prohibited from using or disclosing your PHI for marketing purposes, selling your PHI, or using it for fundraising. We will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your authorization, except as permitted by law.
You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent that we have already taken action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated.
Your Rights With Respect to Your Protected Health Information
- You have the right to request a restriction on the use or disclosure of your PHI. Your request must be in writing and state the specific restriction and to whom it applies. We are not required to agree, except where the restriction concerns a disclosure to a health plan for payment or health care operations for a service paid in full out-of-pocket.
- You have the right to request confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternate location. We will comply with all reasonable written requests specifying how or where you wish to receive communications.
- You have the right to request access, inspection, and copying of your protected health information.
- You have the right to request an amendment of your PHI. If we deny your request, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we will provide you with a copy of any rebuttal.
- You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI, except disclosures pursuant to an authorization, for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or certain other purposes.
- You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice upon request, even if you previously requested electronic delivery.
Revisions to This Notice
We reserve the right to revise this Notice and make it effective for PHI we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. You are entitled to a copy of the Notice currently in effect. Any significant changes will be posted on our website.
Breach of Health Information
We will notify you if a breach of your unsecured protected health information is discovered. Notification will be made no later than 60 days from discovery and will include a brief description of how the breach occurred, the PHI involved, and contact information for questions.
Complaints
Complaints about this Notice or how we handle your protected health information should be directed to our HIPAA Privacy Officer. You may also submit a formal complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice.
