NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICE
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND
DICLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT
CAREFULLY.
THIS NOTICE IS EFFECTIVE 12/12/02 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
As a patient, you have the right to adequate notice of the uses and disclosures
of your protected health information. Under the Health Insurance Portability
and accessibility Act (HIPAA), Martin J. Baer, O.D.P.C. can use your protected
health information for treatment, payment and health care operations.
a) Treatment- We may use or disclose your health information to a physician
or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you.
b) Payment- We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment
for services we provide you.
c) Health Care Operations- We may use and disclose your health information
in connection with our healthcare operations. Healthcare operations include
quality assessment and. improvement activities, reviewing the competency
or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating provider performance,
conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, licesing or
credentialing activities.
Your Authorization
Most uses and disclosures that do not fall under treatment, payment, health
care operations will require your written authorization. Upon signing, you
may revoke your authorization (in writing) through our practice at any time.
Emergency Situations
In the event of your incapacity or an emergency situation, we will disclose
health information to a family member, or another person responsible for
your care, using our professional judgment. We will only disclose health
information that is directly relevant to the persons involvement in
your healthcare.
Marketing
We will not use your health information for marketing communications without
your written authorization.
Required by Law
We may also use or disclose your health information when we are required
to do so by law.
Abuse or Neglect
We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we
reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or
domestic violence or the victim of other crimes. We may disclose your health
information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your or
other peoples health or safety.
National Security
We may disclose health information of Armed Forces personnel to military
authorities under certain circumstances. We may disclose health information
to authorized federal officials required for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence
and other national security activities. We may disclose health information
of inmates or patients to the appropriate authorities under certain circumstances.
Appointment Reminders
We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment
reminders via phone, e-mail, letter, or post card.
Your Rights as a Patient
You have the right to restrict the disclosure of your protected health information
(in writing). The request for restriction may be denied if the information
is required for treatment, payment or health care operations.
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You have right
to receive confidential communications regarding your protected health
information. |
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You have the
right to inspect and copy your protected health information. |
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You have the
right to amend your protected health information. |
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You have the
right to receive an account of disclosures of your protected health
information. |
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You have a right
to a paper copy of this notice of privacy practices. |
Legal Requirements
Martin J. Baer, O.D., P.C. is required by law to maintain the privacy of
your protected health information. We are required to abide by the terms
of this notice as it is currently stated, and reserve the right to change
this notice. The policies in any new notice will not be in effect until
they are posted to this site, or are available within our office.
Complaints
If you have complaints regarding the way your protected health information
was handled, you may submit a complaint in writing to our office. You will
not be retaliated against in any manner for a complaint.
Contact Information
For further information about Martin J. Baer, O.D., P.C. privacy policies,
please contact Dr. Martin Baer at the following address or phone number:
Martin J. Baer, O.D., P.C.
65 Pleasant Street
Woburn, MA 01801
781-935-1025 |