HIPAA Policy

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.

• 
  Basis for planning your care and treatment
• Means of communication with other health professionals involved in your care
• Legal document outlining and describing the care you received
• A tool that you, or another payer (your insurance company) will use to verify that services billed were actually provided
• An education tool for medical health providers
• A source for medical research
• Basis for public health officials who might use this information to assess and/or improve state as well as national healthcare
• standards
• A source of data for planning and/or marketing
• A tool that we can reference to ensure the highest quality of care and patient satisfaction

Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to ensure its accuracy, determine what entities have access to your health information, and make an informed decision when authorizing the disclosure of this information to other individuals.

Your 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

Our Responsibilities

CARDIAC CENTER OF TEXAS, P.A. and Vein Clinic of Texas are required to:

• Maintain the privacy of your health information
• Provide you with this Notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you
• Abide by the terms of this notice
• Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
• Accommodate reasonable requests you may have regarding communication of health information via alternative means and/or locations

As permitted by law, we reserve 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. Whatever the reason for these revisions, we will provide you with a revised notice on your next office visit. The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information that we maintain.

We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice.  We will also discontinue using or disclosing your health information after we have received a written revocation of the authorization according to procedures included in the authorization.

How We May and/or Disclosure Your Health Information

We will use your health information for treatment.  Your health information 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 be involved in your care and treatment.

We may use your PHI as necessary to contact you by phone or other means to provide results from exams, tests, or procedures and to provide information that describes or recommends treatment alternatives regarding your care or provide information about health related benefits and services offered by our office.

We will use your information for payment.  Your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated in order to pay for the service rendered to you.

We will use your information for regular healthcare operations.  Your health information may be used as necessary to support the day-to-day activities and management of Cardiac Center of Texas, PA. and Vein Clinic of Texas.  For example: information on the services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting and activities to evaluate and promote quality and compliance. 

Business Associates.  In some instances, we have contracted separate entities to provide services for us.  These “associates” require your health information in order to accomplish the tasks that we ask them to provide.  Some examples of these “business associates” might be a billing service, collection agency, answering service and computer software/hardware provider.

Communication with family.  Due to the nature of our field, we will use our best judgment when disclosing health information to a family member, other relatives, or any other person that is involved in your care or that you have authorized to receive this information.  Please inform the practice when you do not wish a family member or other individual to have authorization to receive your information.

Research/Teaching/Training.  We may use your information for the purpose of research, teaching, and training.

Healthcare Oversight.  Federal law requires us to release your information to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, or other federal/state appointee if there are circumstances that require us to do so.

Public health reporting.  Your health information may be disclosed to public health agencies as required by law.

Law enforcement.  Your health information may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies, without your permission, to support government audits and inspections, to facilitate law-enforcement investigations, and to comply with government mandated reporting.

Appointment reminders.  The practice may use your protected health information to remind you about upcoming appointments. We may contact you by phone or other means to confirm scheduled appointments.  Typically, a brief message may be left on your answering machine or voicemail.  If you don’t approve of these methods or if you prefer alternative methods (i.e. email) please inform the practice.

Other uses and disclosures.  Disclosure of your health information or its use for any purpose 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.

For More Information or To Report a Problem

If you have complaints, questions or would like additional information regarding this notice or the privacy practices of Cardiac Center of Texas, P.A., please contact:

PRIVACY OFFICER – COMPLIANCE DEPT
CARDIAC CENTER OF TEXAS, P.A.
4201 Medical Center Drive, Suite 380
McKinney, TX  75069
(972) 529-6939

If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, please contact the aforementioned practice Privacy Official, or, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint with either the practice’s Privacy Official or with the Office for Civil Rights.  The address for the Office for Civil Rights is listed below:

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509F, HHHBuilding
Washington, D.C., 20201