privacy-policy

Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED. THIS NOTICE ALSO DESCRIBES HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

This Notice of Privacy Practices is being provided to you as a requirement of the Health Insurance and Portability Act (HIPAA). This Notice describes how Renal Advantage Inc. (RAI) may use and disclose your health information, including your protected health information (PHI). Your “protected health information” means any of your written or oral health information that can be used to identify you. This Notice also describes your rights to access and control your health information.

Federal law requires RAI to:

  • Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Maintain the privacy of your protected health information. This requirement is subject to some limitations and exceptions.
  • Follow the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices

PERSONS WHO MUST FOLLOW OUR PRIVACY PRACTICES

  • All employees, staff and other personnel of RAI
  • Medical, nursing and other health care students
  • Medical staff and other medical professionals involved in your care, performing quality improvement activities, medical education, auditing and other services for the Center.
  • Persons or companies performing services for RAI under agreements containing privacy protections or to whom disclosure of medical information is permitted by law.
  • Persons or companies with whom RAI participates in managed care arrangements.

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your protected health information (PHI). The request for restrictions must be in writing and presented to the Center Director. RAI is not required to agree to a requested restriction. You will be notified in writing of RAI’s decision regarding your request.

You have the right to receive confidential communication of PHI. The request for confidential communications must be in writing and presented to the Center Director. RAI will attempt to comply with reasonable requests. You will be notified in writing of the decision regarding your request.

You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI. There are exceptions to this general rule and you may be denied access to certain records. The request for access to your PHI must be in writing and presented to the Center Director. The Center will notify you in writing of the decision regarding your request. If your request is denied, you have the right to have the denial reviewed. A copying fee will be charged.

You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI. The request for an accounting must be in writing and presented to the Center Director. One accounting of disclosures will be provided free of charge during any 12-month period. There will be a reasonable, cost-based fee for additional requests within the same 12-month period.

PERMITTED USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

RAI may use your PHI for the purposes of providing treatment, obtaining payment for treatment and conducting health care operations.

Treatment: RAI will use and/or disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party for treatment purposes. An example would be if you need to transfer to another health care provider for treatment, RAI will disclose PHI necessary for the other health care provider to continue your care.

Payment: Your PHI will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for the services that RAI provides. For example, RAI may give your insurance company information about your dialysis treatment so that they will pay for services provided to you.

Healthcare Operations: RAI may use and/or disclose your PHI for our own day-to-day operations in order to facilitate the functions of the Center and to provide quality care to all patients. Health care operations include such activities as quality improvement, licensing or credentialing, compliance reviews, business management and general administrative activities.

Federal privacy rules allow RAI to use and/or disclose your PHI without authorization for a number of reasons other than treatment, payment and healthcare operations, including the following:

  • When RAI is required to do so by any Federal, State or local law
  • For public health activities such as to prevent or report a communicable disease
  • To report abuse, neglect or domestic violence
  • To conduct health oversight activities such as audits, investigations or licensure actions
  • In connection with judicial and administrative proceedings
  • For law enforcement purposes
  • To coroners, funeral directors and for organ donation
  • For research purposes
  • In the event of a serious threat to health or safety
  • For specified government functions
  • For workers’ compensation

USES AND DISCLOSURES PERMITTED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION BUT WITH OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT

RAI may disclose your PHI for its Center Directory, to individuals involved in your care or payment for treatment such as family members or a close personal friend. RAI may also disclose your PHI for disaster relief purposes. You will be given the opportunity to object to such disclosures.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

RAI reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all health information RAI maintains. Any changes to this Notice will be posted in the Center and copies will be available upon request.

COMPLAINTS

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with the RAI Privacy Officer or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The RAI Privacy Officer may be reached at (615)661-1100. The HHS website at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaadescribes how you may submit complaints.