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 Presents this Notice
This Notice describes the practices of Compass Health, Inc. and members of its workforce (collectively, “Compass Health”). This Notice applies to services furnished to you at any Compass Health, Inc. facility involving the use or disclosure of your health information.
Privacy Obligations
Compass Health is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information (“Protected Health Information” or “PHI”) and to provide you with this Notice of legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your Protected Health Information. Compass Health utilizes computerized systems that may subject your Protected Health Information to electronic disclosure for purposes of treatment, payment and/or health care operations as described below. When Compass Health uses or discloses your Protected Health Information, Compass Health is required to abide by the terms of this Notice (or other notice in effect at the time of the use or disclosure).
Uses and Disclosures
Treatment. Your PHI may be used by staff members or disclosed to other health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions, and providing treatment. For example, results of laboratory tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment or who may be consulted by staff members.
Payment. Your PHI may be used to seek payment from your health plan, from other sources of coverage such as an automobile insurer, or from credit card companies that you may use to pay for services. For example, your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated.
Health care operations. Your PHI may be used as necessary to support the day-to-day activities and management of this facility. For example, information on the services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality.
Law enforcement. Your PHI may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies to support government audits and inspections, to facilitate law-enforcement investigations, and to comply with government mandated reporting.
Public health reporting. Your PHI may be disclosed to public health agencies as required by law. For example, we are required to report certain communicable diseases to the state’s public health department.
Other uses and disclosures require your authorization. Disclosure of your PHI or its use for any purposes other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization. If you change your mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of your information, you may submit a written revocation of the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision to revoke your authorization.
Without your authorization, Compass Health is expressly prohibited to use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes when financial remuneration is involved. We may not sell your PHI without your authorization. We may not use or disclose most psychotherapy notes contained in your PHI. We will not use or disclose any of your PHI that contains genetic information that will be used for underwriting purposes.
Additional Uses of Information
Fundraising. Compass Health will use your name and address to support our fund-raising efforts, unless you elect not to receive this type of information.
Marketing. Compass Health must obtain your written authorization prior to using your PHI for marketing activities to provide you with information about services available at our practice.
Individual Rights
You have certain rights under the federal privacy standards. These include:
● The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information
● The right to receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition and treatment
● The right to inspect and copy your protected health information
● The right to amend or submit corrections to your protected health information
● The right to receive an accounting of how and to whom your protected health information has been disclosed
● The right to receive a printed copy of this notice
Facility Duties
Compass Health is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide you with this notice of privacy practices. Compass Health is also required to abide by the privacy policies and practices outlined in this notice. In the event of a breach of unsecured protected health information, it is Compass Health’s duty to notify you if your information has been compromised.
Right to Revise Privacy Practices
As permitted by law, Compass Health reserves the right to amend or modify our privacy policies and practices. These changes in our policies and practices may be required by changes in federal and state laws and regulations. Upon request, we will provide you with the most recently revised notice on any office visit.
The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information we maintain.
Requests to Inspect Protected Health Information
You may generally inspect or copy the protected health information that we maintain. As permitted by federal regulation, Compass Health requires that requests to inspect or copy protected health information be submitted in writing. You may obtain a form to request access to your records by contacting the Health Information Department. Your request will be reviewed and will generally be approved unless there are legal or medical reasons to deny the request.
Complaints
If you would like to submit a comment or complaint about our privacy practices, you can do so by sending a letter outlining your concerns to:
Compliance and Privacy Officer
Compass Health, Inc.
200 South 13th Street, Suite 208
Grover Beach, California 93433
Telephone Number: (805) 474-7010
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you should call the matter to our attention by sending a letter describing the cause of your concern to the same address. You will not be penalized or otherwise retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact Person
The name and address of the person you may contact for further information concerning our privacy practices is:
Privacy Officer
Compass Health, Inc.
200 South 13th Street, Suite 208
Grover Beach, California 93433
Telephone Number: (805) 474-7010
Effective Date
This notice is effective on September 23, 2013.
