Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP)

THIS NOTICE DEFINES HOW YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION MIGHT BE USED OR DISCLOSED. ADDITIONALLY, IT EXPLAINS HOW TO ACCESS YOUR INFORMATION.

REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

OUR OBLIGATIONS:

By law, there are requirements we must meet, including:

We are required to ensure your health information is protected.

We are required to offer you this legal notice of privacy practices related to your health information.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT:

HOW YOUR INFORMATION MIGHT BE USED AND DISCLOSED:

Unless expressly stated below, we will not use or disclose your medical information, unless we receive your written consent. You can revoke permission to use your information at any time.

If you are receiving treatment in our facilities, we might use or disclose your treatment-related information with doctors, nurses or technicians directly related to your treatment. In addition, we might use or disclose your information with people outside of the office, but only if they are directly related to your medical care.

We might use and disclose medical information so that we might bill and receive payment for services offered. An example of this might include sharing treatment details with with your insurance company, which then allows them to make payments for your treatment.

We might use and disclose your medical information in order to offer you the best service possible. This might include sharing details with a physician to ensure you receive high-quality treatment.

We might use and disclose your information in order to remind you of upcoming appointments. Additionally, we might use and disclose your information to offer additional services and treatment options.  

Occasionally, we might use and disclose your medical information with others involved with the treatment. This might include a family member or a close friend. This will only be done with your written consent. We might also contact another person related to your health during an emergency to inform them of your condition and location.

Occasionally, we might use and disclose your health information for research. This might include comparing the effectiveness of certain treatments. In most cases, research must receive special approval, but some forms of research might be immediately approved. If this occurs, the researcher is not allowed to copy or remove your medical information.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS:

International, federal, state and local law might require us to disclose health information. This might apply in several situations, including:

We might use and disclose your medical information to avoid a serious health threat.

We might use and disclose your health information to inform our business associates of services offered. For example, we will inform the company that does our billing. This is done so we can send you the bill for the services we have provided.

We might use and disclose your medical information if you are an organ or tissue donor. This is to ensure that the organ and tissue donation process functions properly.

If you are enlisted in the military, we might be required to release medical information to military command authorities. If you are a member of a foreign military, the same rules apply.

If your case is related to worker’s compensation, we might be required to share your medical information with a specific worker’s compensation program.

In extreme cases that put the public health at risk, we might disclose your medical information to ensure a public outbreak does not occur. The information disclosed will be used to protect the public from using products or performing activities that might result in injury, sickness or death. This information will only be disclosed with your consent.

We might be required by law to use and disclose your information if a health oversight agency asks us to do so. Examples of oversight activities might include inspections, like an audit. These activities are used to ensure our programs are in compliance with civil rights laws.

If a data breach occurs, we might be required to use and disclose your medical information in order to create informative notices of unauthorized access to or disclosure of your health information.

If a court order requires us to do so, we are obligated to disclose your medical information. WE might also disclose your information in response to inquires, like a subpoena. This will only be done after an honest attempt to inform you of the information request.

Under the request of law enforcement, we are obligated to release your medical information in the following situations: (1) in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process; (2) to identify or locate a suspect; (3) information about victims of a crime, if we receive the victim’s consent; (4) information related to a death believed to be crime related; and (6) in order to report a crime.

We might release your medical information to a coroner, a medical examiner or a funeral director. For example, this might be done in order to identify a deceased person or to determine a probable cause of death.

We might release your medical information to authorized federal officials for all matters of national security.

We might use and disclose your medical information to federal officials authorized to provide protection to the President or other foreign heads of state. Your information might also be disclosed to conduct a special investigation.

If you are incarcerated, your medical information might be used or disclosed under the following circumstances: (1) in order for the facility to provide health care; (2) in order to protect your health and the health of others in the facility; or (3) in order to maintain health and safety in the facility.

SITUATIONS WHEN WE MUST OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT OR OPT OUT BEFORE WE USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION

We might use and disclose your medical information to family members, friends or other specified individuals, if you are physical state leaves you unable to agree to these terms. If we deem it is in your best interest, we will inform individuals directly related to your health.

We might use and disclose your medical records to relief organizations during a disaster. These groups will help offer care during the disaster and try to notify your family and friends of your condition and location. We will attempt to provide you with an opportunity to accept or object to the sharing of your information in this situation.

WHEN WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED FOR OTHERS TO USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION

If we receive your written consent, we will use and disclose your information in the following manner:

1. Marketing purposes

2. Sale of your health information

There might be other circumstances that involve the use and disclosure of your information, but your information will only be shared if we receive your written consent. Even if we have your written consent, you may revoke it at any time. If you would like to revoke your approval, please submit a written notice to our Privacy Officer.

YOUR RIGHTS:

You have a right to review your health records, and you have the right to request a copy of any of your records related to quality of care and payment of care. The only records you cannot access are your psychotherapy notes. If you wish to review any of your records, you must submit a written request to our Privacy Officer. Additionally, there might be a reasonable fee included, which will cover costs, including: making copies, mail fees, or supplies used to fulfill your request. If you feel the information is related to a Social Security Act benefit claim—or any other benefit claim—no fee will be charged. We do reserve the right to deny any claim. If your claim is denied, you may request to have the denial reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional not directly involved in the denial of your request. If the ruling is overturned, we will immediately comply with the decision.

You have a right to receive an electronic version of your medical records, if your records are stored in an electronic format. We will do our best to promptly send you the information, if it is readily available in the requested format. If the requested format is not readily available, we will provide the information in a different electronic form or offer a physical version of the form. If costs are affiliated with the request, we might charge a fee to cover the cost.

You have a right to be informed of a breach in your medical information.

You have a right to amend or correct any information you believe might be incorrect, and you may ask us to change or update the information. Additionally, you may submit a written request to our Privacy Officer, if you feel an amendment should be made.

You have a right to receive a list of potential disclosures, in addition to the already agreed upon disclosures. The additional forms of disclosure do not include: information used for treatment, information used for payment or information used for health care. To receive an accounting of potential disclosures, please submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer.

You have the right to request a restriction be placed on the amount of information used or disclosed. This also means you may restrict who receives information and how much information they can receive. For example, you might ask your physician not to share details about a current diagnosis with a spouse or family member. If you are seeking to place a restriction on your information, you must submit a written request to our Privacy Officer. Though you might submit a request, we are not obligated to agree with all requests. If we do agree to meet your request, we will comply with all non-emergency related restrictions.

If you pay request that we not bill your health plan, and you choose to pay “out-of-pocket,” in-full, you have the right to request that your medical information not be sent to your health care provider. If you select this option, we will honor your request.

You have the right to request that we only communicate medical matters to you at a certain time and place. For example, you might ask that we only communicate with you through mail or when you at work. If you would like to request confidential information, you must send your request in written form to our Privacy Officer. In the written request, you are required to supply detailed information about when and where you would like to be contacted. We will do our best to accommodate all feasible requests.

You have a right to receive a paper copy of this notice, and you have the right to ask for a copy at any time. If you already receive the notice electronically, you may still ask for a physical copy. If you would like a physical copy of this form, contact our Privacy Officer.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE:

We may change this notice at any time. If changes are made, we will post a copy of the updated notice in our office and online, and an effective date will be listed on the front page.

COMPLAINTS:

If you are concerned about your privacy rights, or you believe a violation of your rights has occurred, contact the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to file a complaint. All complaints must be submitted in written form. You will never be penalized for filing a complaint.

To address concerns with this policy, contact the person listed below:

Contact Person:

Name: Ned Hillyard

Title: Executive Compliance and Privacy Officer

Address: 2325 Coronado street, Idaho Falls, ID

Phone Number: 208-557-2711

Independent Contractors

The physicians who practice at Mountain View Hospital, as independent contractors, will not assume any liability for service or conduct of the other.

Effective Date: The effective date of this Notice is 4/14/2003; revised July 28, 2013