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Skilled
Nursing Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy Social Worker Home Health Aide SPECIALTY PROGRAMS H.E.A.R.T. Cardio-thoracic Post-operative Program Total Joint Replacement Program Living
With Congestive Heart Failure Diabetes Education
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Your Health Information Is Protected By Federal Law Most of us believe that our medical and other
health information is private and should be protected, and we want to know who has this information. The Privacy Rule, a Federal
law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. Who Must Follow This Law We call the entities
that must follow the Privacy Rule covered entities. Covered entities include: - Health
Plans, including health insurance companies, HMOs, company health plans, and certain government programs that pay
for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
- Most Health Care Providers—those
that conduct certain business electronically, such as electronically billing your health insurance—including most doctors,
clinics, hospitals, psychologists, chiropractors, nursing homes, pharmacies, and dentists.
- Health
Care Clearinghouses—entities that process nonstandard health information they receive from another entity into
a standard (i.e., standard electronic format or data content), or vice versa.
 Who Is Not Required to Follow This Law Many organizations that have health information about
you do not have to follow this law. Examples of organizations that do not have to follow
the Privacy Rule include: - life insurers,
- employers,
- workers compensation carriers,
- many schools and school districts,
- many state agencies like child
protective service agencies,
- many law enforcement agencies,
- many municipal offices.
What Information Is Protected - Information your doctors, nurses, and other health care
providers put in your medical record
- Conversations your doctor has about your care or treatment with nurses and others
- Information about you in your health insurer’s computer system
- Billing information about you at your
clinic
- Most other health information about you held by those who must follow this law
How Is This Information Protected - Covered entities must put in place safeguards to protect
your health information.
- Covered entities must reasonably limit uses and disclosures to the minimum necessary to
accomplish their intended purpose.
- Covered entities must have contracts in place with their contractors and
others ensuring that they use and disclose your health information properly and safeguard it appropriately.
- Covered
entities must have procedures in place to limit who can view and access your health information as well as implement training
programs for employees about how to protect your health information.
What Rights Does This Law Give Me Over My Health Information Health Insurers and Providers
who are covered entities must comply with your right to: - Ask to see and get a copy of your health records
- Have corrections added to your health information
- Receive a notice that tells you how your health information
may be used and shared
- Decide if you want to give your permission before your health information can be used or shared
for certain purposes, such as for marketing
- Get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain
purposes
- If you believe your rights are being denied or your health information isn’t being protected, you
can
- File a complaint with your provider or health insurer
- File a complaint with the U.S. Government
You
should get to know these important rights, which help you protect your health information. You can ask your provider
or health insurer questions about your rights. Learn more about your health information privacy rights.
Who Can Look at and Receive Your Health Information The law sets rules and limits on who can look
at and receive your health information To make sure that your health information is protected in a way that does not
interfere with your health care, your information can be used and shared: - For your treatment and care coordination
- To pay doctors and hospitals for your health care and to help run their businesses
- With your family, relatives,
friends, or others you identify who are involved with your health care or your health care bills, unless you object
- To
make sure doctors give good care and nursing homes are clean and safe
- To protect the public's health, such as
by reporting when the flu is in your area
- To make required reports to the police, such as reporting gunshot wounds
Your
health information cannot be used or shared without your written permission unless this law allows it. For example, without
your authorization, your provider generally cannot: - Give your information to your employer
- Use or share
your information for marketing or advertising purposes
- Share private notes about your health care
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