As Required by the Privacy Regulation Created as a Result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
THIS NOTICE EXPRESSES OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU; IT DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY; THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO US.
Our Commitment and Legal Duty to Your Privacy
We, Sohm Family Care LLC, are dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your individually identifiable health information. We are required by applicable federal and state law to protect your privacy and to give this Notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this Notice while it is in effect.
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We reserve the right to make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our Notice effective for all health information that we maintain, including health information we created or received before we make the changes. Before we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this Notice and make the new Notice available upon request.
You may request a copy of our Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact us using the information listed at the end of this Notice.
Uses and Disclosures of Your Health Information
The following categories describe the different ways we may use and disclose your health information in connection with our healthcare operations:
Treatment
We may use and disclose your health to a physician or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you.
Payment
We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you.
Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your health information in connection with operating our business. These operating activities may include quality assessment and improvement initiatives, evaluation of the competence or qualifications of healthcare professionals, assessment of provider performance, execution of training programs, and activities related to accreditation, certification, or licensing.
Your Authorization
In addition to our use of your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, you may extend written authorization to us to utilize your health information or to disclose it for any designated purpose. Should you grant such authorization, you retain the right to revoke it in written form at any given time. Your revocation will not impinge upon any utilization or disclosure authorized by your consent while it was operative. Absent your written authorization, we are precluded from utilizing or disclosing your health information for any purposes other than those specified in this Notice.
To our Family and Friends
We must disclose your health information to you, as described in the Patient Rights section of this Notice. We may disclose your health information to a family member, confidant, or another individual engaged in your care, who contributes to your care or assists with the financial aspects of your healthcare, but only if you agree that we may do so.
Persons Involved in Care
We may use or disclose health information, inclusive of identification or location, to notify or aid in the notification of a family member, your designated representative, or another individual accountable for your care, regarding your whereabouts, your overarching condition, or demise. If you are present, then preceding the employment or disclosure of your health information, we will afford you the opportunity to dissent to such employments or disclosures. In scenarios of your incapacity or exigent circumstances, we will disclose health information predicated on a determination utilizing our professional discernment, disclosing solely health information that is directly pertinent to the individual’s involvement in your healthcare. We will also employ our professional discernment and our familiarity with customary practice to make judicious inferences of your best interest in permitting an individual to collect filled prescriptions, medical supplies, and other analogous forms of health information.
Abuse or Neglect
We may disclose your health information to the appropriate authorities if we reasonably surmise that you may be a victim of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or other crimes. This information may be disclosed to the extent necessary to mitigate a threat to the health or safety of you or others.
Appointment Reminders
We may use and disclose your health information to contact you and remind you of an appointment via phone or voicemail messages.
Public Health Risks
We may use and disclose your health information to public health authorities or other authorized individuals to execute certain obligations related to public health.
Marketing Health Related Services
We will not use your health information from marketing communication without your written authorization.
Mandated by Law, Lawsuits, and Legal Proceedings
We may use or disclose your health information when we are compelled to do so by law, required by court, in response to subpoenas, discovery requests, or other legal processes.
Military and National Security
We may employ or disclose your health information if you are or have been a member of the U.S. or foreign military forces and if required by the appropriate authorities. We may also disclose this information to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law, as well as to correctional institution officials in the event of an inmate or individual being taken into court custody.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors
We may use or disclose your health information to a coroner or medical examiner to identify disease person and to determine the cause of death, as well as funeral directors, as authorized by law, to facilitate their duties.
Patient Rights
Access
You have the right to inspect or obtain copies of your health information, subject to limited exceptions. Requests for access must be submitted in writing using the contact information listed at the end of this notice.
Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to an accounting of instances wherein your health information has been disclosed for reasons other than treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and certain other activities.
Restrictions
You have the right to request that your health information not be shared with your insurance provider when services are paid for out-of-pocket. We are required to comply with your request not to share protected health information with your health insurance plan. You have the right to request that additional restrictions on our use of disclosure of your health information. We are not required to agree to these additional restrictions, but if we do, we will apply our agreement, except in the event of emergency.
Amendment
You have the right to request, in writing, to amend your health information. It must explain why the information should be amended. We may deny your request under certain circumstances.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time.
Right to File a Complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file the complaint our Sohm Family Care Privacy Officer.
Questions and Complaints
Should you require further elucidation regarding our privacy protocols, or if you possess inquiries or reservations, you are encouraged to engage with us through the contact modalities listed at end of this Notice.
In the event that you harbor concerns pertaining to a potential breach of your privacy rights, or should you hold objections to decisions we have made concerning access to your health information, or in relation to a petition you have lodged to amend or limit the use or disclosure of your health information, we invite you to address such matters with us using the contact information provided herein. Moreover, you retain the right to lodge a formal grievance in writing with the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Upon request, we shall provide the requisite information to facilitate the filing of your complaint.
We unequivocally affirm your entitlement to the confidentiality of your health information. Under no circumstances shall we engage in any form of retaliation should you elect to initiate a complaint with us or with the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Privacy Officer
Lamin Moore
Phone Number
(608) 419-2338
Email Address
lamin.moore@sohmfamilycare.com