New HIPAA Notice

The United States Government has recently passed a revised law protecting your private health information. It is called The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 2013 (HIPAA). The law includes safeguards for your private medical information and defines to whom a medical office can release your information. There are instances in which information can be released to others without your permission. Some but not all of these people or organizations include:

• Another physician or healthcare provider involved in your care (i.e., a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist). Most often we will ask you for a signed release.
• Healthcare insurance companies (reimbursement will not be given unless a diagnosis is provided)
• Law enforcement or healthcare professionals if nondisclosure could harm the health or safety of a person or the public.
• Workers compensation personnel.
• Lawyers and other legal personnel (i.e., suspected child abuse)

This is a very brief summary of the privacy practices now in place in our and all other medical offices. We invite you to read the full Karan HIPAA Notice of privacy practices listed in the Links Section of this Blog..