HomeCare for the Carolinas

Home Care at Your Doorsteps.

Privacy Practice

 

HOMECARE FOR THE CAROLINAS, LLC

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 IT CAREFULLY.

HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC is required, by law to maintain the privacy and

confidentiality of your protected health information and to provide our patients with notice

of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your protected health

information.

 

Disclosure of Your Health Care Information

Treatment

 

We may disclose your health care information to other healthcare professionals within

our practice for the purpose of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. (example)

“On occasion, it may be necessary to seek consultation regarding your condition

from other health care providers associated with HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC.”

“It is our policy to provide a substitute health care provider, authorized by HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC to provide assessment and/or treatment to our patients,

without advanced notice, in the event of your primary health care provider’s

absence due to vacation, sickness, or other emergency situation.”

 

Payment

 

We may disclose your health information to your insurance provider for the purpose of

payment or health care operations. (example)

“As a courtesy to our patients, we will submit an itemized billing statement to your

insurance carrier for the purpose of payment to HomeCare for the Carolinas,LLC for

health care services rendered. If you pay for your health care services

personally, we will, as a courtesy, provide an itemized billing to your insurance

carrier for the purpose of reimbursement to you. The billing statement contains

medical information, including diagnosis, date of injury or condition, and codes

which describe the health care services received.”

 

Workers’ Compensation

 

We may disclose your health information as necessary to comply with State Workers’

Compensation Laws.

 

Emergencies

 

We may disclose your health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member,

or another person responsible for your care about your medical condition or in the event

of an emergency or of your death.

 

Public Health

 

As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health authorities

for purposes related to: preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability, reporting

child abuse or neglect, reporting domestic violence, reporting to the Food and Drug

Administration problems with products and reactions to medications, and reporting

disease or infection exposure.

 

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings.

 

We may disclose your health information in the course of any administrative or judicial

proceeding.

 

Law Enforcement.

 

We may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes such

as identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person,

complying with a court order or subpoena, and other law enforcement purposes.

 

Deceased Persons.

 

We may disclose your health information to coroners or medical examiners.

 

Organ Donation.

 

We may disclose your health information to organizations involved in procuring, banking,

or transplanting organs and tissues.

 

Research.

 

We may disclose your health information to researchers conducting research that has

been approved by an Institutional Review Board.

 

Public Safety.

 

It may be necessary to disclose your health information to appropriate persons in order

to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular

person or to the general public.

 

Specialized Government Agencies.

 

We may disclose your health information for military, national security, prisoner and

government benefits purposes.

 

Marketing.

 

We may contact you for marketing purposes or fundraising purposes, as described

below: (example)

“As a courtesy to our patients, it is our policy to call your home on the evening

prior to your scheduled appointment to remind you of your appointment time. If

you are not at home, we leave a reminder message on your answering machine

or with the person answering the phone. No personal health information will be

disclosed during this recording or message other than the date and time of your

scheduled appointment along with a request to call our office if you need to

cancel or reschedule your appointment.”

“It is our practice to participate in charitable events to raise awareness, food

donations, gifts, money, etc. During these times, we may send you a letter, post

card, invitation or call your home to invite you to participate in the charitable

activity. We will provide you with information about the type of activity, the dates

and times, and request your participation in such an event. It is not our policy to

disclose any personal health information about your condition for the purpose of

HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC sponsored fund-raising events.”

 

Change of Ownership.

 

In the event that HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC  is sold or merged with another

organization, your health information/record will become the property of the new owner.

 

Your Health Information Rights

 

_ You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your

health information. Please be advised HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC is not required to agree to the restriction that you requested.

_ You have the right to have your health information received or communicated

through an alternative method or sent to an alternative location other than the

usual method of communication or delivery, upon your request.

_ You have the right to inspect and copy your health information.

_ You have a right to request that HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC amend your

protected health information. Please be advised, however, that HomeCare for the Carolinas,LLC is not required to agree to amend your protected health information.

 If your request to amend your health information has been denied, you will be

provided with an explanation of our denial reason(s)and information about how

you can disagree with the denial.

_ You have a right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your protected health

information made by HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC.

_ You have a right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time

upon request.

 

Changes to this Notice of Privacy Practices

HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC reserves the right to amend this Notice of Privacy Practices

at any time in the future, and will make the new provisions effective for all information

that it maintains. Until such amendment is made, HomeCare for the Carolinas,LLC is

required by law to comply with this Notice.  HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC  is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information. If you have questions about any part of this notice or if you want more information about your privacy rights, please contact:  Tamara A. Neely, Director by calling this office at 704-535-8179. If Mrs. Neely is not available, you may make an appointment for a personal conference in person or by telephone within 3 working days.

 

Complaints

 

Complaints about your Privacy rights or how HomeCare for the Carolinas, LLC has handled

your health information should be directed to Tamara A. Neely, Director by calling this office at

704-335-8488. If Tamara A. Neely is not available, you may make an appointment for a

personal conference in person or by telephone within 3 working days.