Notice of Privacy Practices for Kinship Wellness PLLC
Updated: [8/26/24]
THIS NOTICE EXPLAINS HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND SHARED, AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS IT. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.
If you have any questions, we're here to help. You can reach our privacy officer at Kinship Wellness PLLC, [Robert Lewis, info@kinshipwellness.com}
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOU
We are committed to:
Protecting the privacy of your health information.
Letting you know promptly if there's a breach that might affect the security of your information.
Providing you with this notice to explain our legal duties and privacy practices.
Following the terms outlined in this notice.
The SMS opt-in or phone numbers for the purpose of SMS are not being shared.
HOW WE USE AND SHARE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
Here’s how we may use and share your health information, known as Protected Health Information (PHI). Unless otherwise noted, we will only use or share your PHI with your written permission, and you can revoke that permission at any time by contacting us. SMS opt-in or phone numbers for the purpose of SMS are not being shared without your written permission.
For Your Treatment: We may use and share your PHI to ensure you receive the best care possible. This might involve sharing your information with doctors, nurses, or other health professionals who are helping with your treatment, even if they're not part of our practice.
For Payment: We may use and share your PHI to process payments for the services you've received, whether it's with your insurance, a third party, or directly with you.
For Health Care Operations: We may use and share your PHI to improve our services and operations. This includes activities like audits, care coordination, and administrative tasks, all aimed at providing you with the highest quality of care.
Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Information: We may contact you with appointment reminders or share information about treatment options and other health-related services that might interest you. Rest assured, we won’t share your mobile information with third parties for marketing purposes.
Research: Under certain conditions, we may use your PHI for research purposes. However, this will only happen after a thorough review process to protect your privacy.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Sometimes, we are legally required or permitted to share your information for reasons that benefit the public, such as public health and research. We ensure that all legal requirements are met before sharing your information.
As Required by Law: We will disclose your PHI when the law requires it.
To Prevent a Serious Threat: If we believe there’s a serious threat to your health or safety, or the health and safety of others, we may share your information with someone who can help prevent that threat.
Child or Adult Abuse Reporting: If we suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child, elderly, or disabled person, we are required to report this to the appropriate authorities.
Business Associates: We may share your PHI with trusted partners who perform services for us, such as billing or electronic health record management. These partners are also committed to protecting your privacy.
Legal Matters: If you are involved in a legal matter, we may share your PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal processes.
Public Health and Safety: We may share your PHI for public health activities, such as preventing disease or reporting adverse reactions to medications.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose PHI to government agencies for oversight activities, such as audits and inspections, which are necessary to monitor the health care system.
Data Breach Notifications: In the event of a data breach involving your PHI, we may need to notify you as required by law.
National Security: We may share PHI with federal officials for national security purposes.
Organ and Tissue Donation: If you are an organ donor, we may share your PHI to facilitate donation and transplantation.
Coroners and Funeral Directors: We may share PHI with coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors to carry out their duties.
Inmates or Individuals in Custody: If you are in custody, we may share PHI as necessary to provide you with health care or ensure safety within the correctional facility.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have several rights regarding your PHI:
Right to Inspect and Copy: You can review and request a copy of your health information. We may charge a small fee for copies but will waive this fee in certain situations.
Right to an Electronic Copy: If your health information is stored electronically, you can request an electronic copy or have it sent to another person or entity.
Right to Amend: If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you can request an amendment.
Right to a List of Disclosures: You can ask for a list of certain disclosures we’ve made of your PHI, except for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
Right to Request Restrictions: You can request limits on how we use or share your PHI for treatment, payment, or operations.
Out-of-Pocket Payments: If you pay for a service out-of-pocket in full, you can request that we don’t share that information with your health plan.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You can ask us to communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You’re entitled to a paper copy of this notice, even if you’ve received it electronically.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We may update this notice as needed, and any changes will apply to all PHI we hold, past, present, and future. The latest version will always be available in our office and on our website.
CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS
If you feel that your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with us, the [State Attorney General's Office], or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We value your trust and will not retaliate against you for raising concerns.