Notice of Privacy Policies
Bamboo Field Acupuncture & Herb
We understand that your health and medical information is personal, and we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your health and medical information is not used inappropriately. This notice describes how we may utilize and/or disclose your health information to carry out treatment, collect payment for your care, or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. This notice describes our legal duties for protecting the privacy of your health information and explains your rights to have your health information protected. We will create a record of the services we provide to you, and this record will include your health and medical information. We need to maintain this information to ensure that you receive quality care and to meet certain legal requirements related to providing you care. This notice will remain in effect until it is replaced or amended by changes in law.
How we may use or disclose your health information:
For treatment
Only with your written approval, we may disclose your health information to your physician or other health care providers to be sure those parties have all the information necessary to diagnose and treat you. Your protected health information may be provided to a physician, chiropractor, dentist, acupuncturist or whomever you have been referred, to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you. We may call your name in the lobby when we call you for your appointment.
For payment
We may utilize and disclose your health information to others so we can receive payments for treatments rendered. For example, a bill may be sent to you or your insurance company. The bill may have your name, your diagnosis, and treatment and supplies used in the course of treatment. We may disclose your information to a third party that performs services, such as bill collection, on our behalf. In these cases, we will enter into a written agreement with the third party to ensure they protect the privacy of your health information.
Appointment reminders
We may use your information in order to contact you and remind you of an upcoming appointment for treatment by phone. We may also contact you to inquire about your well-being after receiving a treatment.
In addition, we may send you newsletters, greeting cards, coupons and flyers that may benefit you to provide you with the latest information and incentives by postal mails or e-mails.
We are required by law to utilize and/or disclose your health information without your authorization for the following purposes:
Disclosure
We may use and disclose your health and medical information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law, for example, to comply with a court order, warrant, subpoena, summons, or similar process.
Workers’ Compensation
We may disclose your health information for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.
Other uses and disclosures of your health information not covered by this notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your health information as specified by the revoked authorization, except to the extent that we have taken action in reliance on your authorization.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health and Medical Information
You have the following rights regarding health information we maintain about you:
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on how we use and disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request to the best of our ability. To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing.
Right To Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a certain manner or at a certain location regarding the services you receive from us. For example, you may ask that we only contact you at work or at home. To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing. We will not ask the reason for your request. We will attempt to accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to Inspect and Copy
Upon written request, you have the right to inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about your care. Usually this includes medical and billing records. The acupuncturist will provide a copy of your medical information except if the acupuncturist determines that access to the information would be harmful to the physical, mental, or emotional health of the patient. The acupuncturist may delete confidential information about another person who has not consented to the release. There is a documentation fee of $10 for the copying, mailing or preparing the requested documents and 20 days for the processing period.
Right to Amend
If you feel that your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request in writing that you want us to amend your information and why. We have the right to deny the request when the medical record is accurate and complete. You will be notified the reasons why we don’t amend the record in writing. You then have additional right to submit a written statement of disagreement.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to a paper copy of this notice at any time.
Right to Complain
If you have any questions about this notice, or would like to file a complaint about our privacy practices, please direct your inquiries in writing. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against or penalized for filing a complaint.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. We reserve the right to make the new Notice provisions effective for all health information we currently maintain, as well as any health information we receive in the future. If we make material or important changes to our privacy practices, we will promptly revise our Notice. We will give you a current copy of the Notice at the front desk and check out areas when the changes are made. Each new version of the Notice will have an effective date listed on the first page.
To learn more, contact Bamboo Field Acupuncture & Herb at 512.431.7997 or email us with your questions.