Information About You: The following categories describe different ways that HMS uses and discloses your PHI. We have provided you with examples in certain categories; however, not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed.
Treatment- We may use your health information to provide and coordinate the treatment, medications, and services you receive. For example, we may order physical therapy services to improve your strength and walking abilities. We will need to talk with the physical therapist so that we can coordinate services and develop a plan of care. We also may need to refer you to another healthcare provider to receive certain services. We will share information with that health care provider to coordinate your care and services. We may also share your protected health information with your doctor or medical group for purposes such as authorizing a particular type of treatment.
Payment- We may use your health information for various payment-related functions. For example, we may receive a bill containing protected health information from a doctor who provided care for you. If the bill is our responsibility, we will make payment. If the bill is the responsibility of your medical group, we will forward the bill, with your health information, to the medical group so they can make payment.
Health Care Operations- We may use your health information for certain operational, administrative, and quality assurance activities. For example, we may use information in your health record to monitor the performance of the staff providing treatment to you. This service action will be used to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care and service we provide. We may disclose health information to business associates if they need to receive this information to provide a service to us and will agree to abide by specific HIPAA rules relating to the PHI.
Communications with Family Member or Friend - We may use or disclose your PHI to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your health care or responsible for payment, but ONLY IF: You are present, and you ask for or agree to the disclosure; OR You are either not present, or you are physically or mentally unable to respond, and we believe the disclosure is in your best interest. If you request in writing and meet certain requirements, we can provide your PHI directly to a third party indicated in your written request.
To Provide Information to You - We may use or disclose your PHI to you to provide you with information about your benefits and available services. For example, we may review your protected health information to evaluate treatment and services you received and to evaluate the performance of our doctors and other providers. We may contact you to inform you about possible treatment options or alternatives, or to provide education about managing a chronic condition. We may also use your health information to provide you with information about benefits available to you, and in limited situations, about health-related products or services that may be of interest to you.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - We may disclose to the FDA, or persons under the jurisdiction of the FDA, PHI relative to adverse events with respect to drugs, foods, supplements, products, and products defects, or post- marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacements.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings - If you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order. We may disclose your PHI for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a subpoena or court order.
Fundraising - We may contact you as part of a fundraising effort. You may also elect not to receive any further fundraising communications.
Correctional Institution - If you are or become an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or its agents, PHI necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.
As Otherwise Required or Permitted by Law:We may also disclose your PHI, as allowed by law, for many types of activities. PHI can be shared for health oversight activities. It can also be shared with public health authorities, for law enforcement reasons, and to coroners, funeral directors, or medical examiners (about decedents). PHI can also be shared for certain reasons with organ donation groups, for research, and to avoid a serious threat to health or safety. It can be shared for special government functions, for workers' compensation, to respond to requests from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and to alert proper authorities if we reasonably believe that you may be a victim of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or other crimes.
State-Specific Requirements: When state laws are stricter than federal privacy laws, we are required to follow the state law.
Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Benefits: We may use your PHI to contact you to provide appointment reminders or to give information about other treatments or health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.