NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

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.

Iowa Hospice is providing this Notice of Privacy Practices because the privacy of your health information is very important to you and to us, and in compliance with federal regulations.  

By "your health information", we mean the information that we maintain that specifically identifies you and your health status.

SUMMARY

This Notice describes how we use your health information within Iowa Hospice. And disclose it outside Iowa Hospice, and why.

The Notice Covers:

Uses of disclosures that do not require your written authorization.
- Treatment, payment, and health care operations.
- Uses or disclosures of your health information to which you may object.
- Uses or disclosures required or permitted.
Uses or disclosures that require your written authorization.
Your rights as a patient regarding privacy of your health information.
Our duties in protecting your health information.
Complaints, contact person, effective date, and acknowledgement.

USES OR DISCLOSURES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations.
We use or disclose your health information to carry out your treatment, to obtain payment for your treatment, and to conduct health care operations. For example:

For treatment, we use your health information to plan, coordinate, and provide your care. We disclose your health information for treatment purposes to physicians and other health care professionals outside our agency who are involved in your care.
For payment, we use your health information to prepare documentation required by your insurance company or HMO or by Medicare or Medicaid. We disclose that part of your health information that these organizations require to pay us.
For health care operations, we use or disclose your health information, for example, to improve the quality of our services, to plan better ways of treating patients, and to evaluate staff performance.

USES OR DISCLOSURES OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION TO WHICH YOU MAY OBJECT

We may use or disclose your health information for the following purposes, unless you ask us not to:

Informing family and friends. We may disclose your health information to family, friends, or others identified by you who are involved in your care.
Confirming our visits to your home or other appointments via the telephone.
Informing you about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

If you object to our use of your health information for any of these purposes please contact the Iowa Hospice Administrator at 1-800-HOSPICE (467-7423).

USES OR DISCLOSURES REQUIRED OR PERMITTED

Where we are required or permitted to do so, we may use or disclose your health information in the following circumstances without your written authorization.

Federal government investigation, when required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with federal regulations.
Federal, state or local law requirements.
Public health activities, for example to report communicable diseases or death; or for matters involving the Food and Drug Administration.
Reporting of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
Health oversight activities by a health oversight agency. (A health oversight agency is an organization authorized by the government to oversee eligibility and compliance and to enforce civil rights laws.)
Judicial or administrative proceedings, for example responding to a court order or subpoena.
Law enforcement purposes, for example to report certain types of wounds or other physical injuries or to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person.
Use by coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors.
Averting a serious threat to your health or safety or that of the public.
Specialized government functions such as military or veterans’ affairs; national security, and intelligence activities.
Workers’ compensation.

YOUR RIGHTS AS A PATIENT TO PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request limits on how we use and release your health information. If we accept your request we will put any limits in writing and abide by them except in emergency situations. You may not limit personal health information that we are legally required or allowed to release.
Rights to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you confidentially, for example to speak with you only in private; to send mail to an address you designate; or to telephone you at a number you designate. Your request must be in writing. We will make every attempt to honor your request.
Right to Request Access to Your Health Information
You have the right to request access to your health information in order to inspect or copy it. Your request must be in writing. We may deny your request and, if so, you may request a review of the denial. However, we will make every attempt to honor your request.
Right to Request an Amendment of Your Health Information
You have the right to request an amendment to your health information. Your request must be in writing and must provide a reason for the amendment. We may deny your request and, if so, you may submit a statement of disagreement. However, we will make every attempt to honor your request.
Right to Request an Accounting of Disclosures of Your Health Information
You have the right to request an accounting of our disclosures of your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and health care operations. We will make every attempt to honor your request. We are not required to provide an accounting for disclosures for more than 6 years prior to the date of your request.  
To exercise these rights please write Director of Program Integrity at 5650 NW Johnston Dr. Suite E, Johnston, Iowa, 50131

You may chose to file your complaint with the Secretary of Health and Human Services by writing to: the Secretary of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201.