ZHANG CLINIC HIPPA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
 
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review the information carefully. The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal program requiring all medical records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, are kept properly confidential. This Act gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used. As required by HIPAA, we have prepared this explanation of how we are required to maintain the privacy of your health information and how we may use and disclose your health information. We may use and disclose your medical records only for each of the following purposes: treatment, payment, and health care operations.
 
Treatment: We may disclose your health care information to other healthcare professionals within our practice for treatment. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you. Payment: We may use and disclose your health information so that others or we may bill and receive payment from you, an insurance company, or a third party for the treatment and services you received. Health care operations: include the business aspects of running our practice, such as conducting quality assessment and improvement activities, auditing functions, cost management analysis, and customer service. Associated companies with whom we may do business, such as an answering service or delivery service, are given only enough information to provide the necessary service to you. No medical information is provided. We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may interest you. We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization. As Required By Law, Public Health issues as required by law, Communicable Diseases, Health Oversight, Abuse or Neglect, Food and Drug Administration requirements, Legal Proceedings, Law Enforcement, Criminal Activity, Inmates, Military Activity, National Security, and Workers’ Compensation. Required Uses and Disclosures: Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and, when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with Section 164.500. Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures Will Be Made Only with Your Consent, Authorization, or Opportunity to Object unless required by law. You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your physician or this organization has taken action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization. Your Health Information Rights Following is a statement of your rights with respect to your protected health information. You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records; psychotherapy notes; information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding; and protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information. You have the right to request a restriction of your protected health information. This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. You may also request that any portion of your protected health information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as described in this
 
Notice of Privacy Practices.
Your request must state the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply. Our organization is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request. If our organization believes it is in your best interest to permit the use and disclosure of your protected health information, your protected health information will not be restricted. You then have the right to use another Healthcare Professional. You have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location other than the usual method of communication or delivery. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us upon request, even if you have agreed to accept this notice alternatively, e.g., electronically. You may have the right to have our organization amend your protected health information. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us, and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal. You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your protected health information.