Notice of Privacy Practices
This notice describes how your Personal Health Information (PHI) may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
As a client and/or patient of Nashville Therapy Group, Inc., you have the right to: get a copy of your medical record; correct your medical record; request confidential communication; ask us to limit the information we share; get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information; get a copy of this privacy notice; choose someone to act for you; and file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we: tell family and friends about your condition; provide disaster relief; include you in a hospital directory; provide mental health care; market our services and sell your information; and raise funds.
We may use and share your information as we: treat you; run our organization; bill for your services; help with public health and safety issues; do research; comply with the law; respond to organ and tissue donation requests; work with a medical examiner or funeral director; address workers compensation; law enforcement; and other government requests; and respond to lawsuits and legal actions.
YOUR RIGHTS
You can ask for a paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. We may say no to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, only on your home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will say yes to all reasonable requests.
You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment or payment purposes. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say no if it would affect your care.
If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, we do not share that information for the purpose of payment or operations without your permission. If part or all of your service fee is paid by a third-party, we may use and share your information to confirm eligibility for services and to ensure proper payment for services rendered.
You can ask for a list of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why. We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one list a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.
You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
Please contact us if you feel we have violated your rights. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to
200 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 or calling 1-877-696-6775.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
YOUR CHOICES
For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described in the following, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions. In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to: share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care; share information in a disaster relief situation; include your information in a hospital directory.
If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety. We will not share your PHI for marketing purposes unless you give us written permission. We will not sell your PHI unless you give us written permission. In the case of fundraising, we may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.
USES AND DISCLOSURES
We typically use and/or share your health information in the following ways: with other professionals who are treating you. (Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.) We can use and share your health information to run this practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. (Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.)
We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. We can share health information about you for certain situations such as: preventing disease; helping with product recalls; reporting adverse reactions to medications; reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety. We can use or share your information for health research. We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law. We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations. We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies. We can use or share health information about you for workers compensation claims; for law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official; with health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law; and for special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services. We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your personally identifiable and protected health information. We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information. We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it. We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available online and upon request.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This notice went into effect April 1, 2020.