Privacy Practices, con't

Examples of How We May Use and Disclose PHI

The following categories describe and provide examples of different ways that we use and disclose PHI:

We will use PHI for treatment.  Example:  Information obtained by Genesis Medical Group, LLC. will be used to provide Orthotics for you, according to prescription provided by your physician.  We will document in your record information related to the Orthosis, medical condition necessitating the orthosis, measurements, fitting notes and any other services provided to you.

We will use to provide warranty service.  Example:  Certain information obtained by Genesis Medical Group, LLC. will be stored in computer data base, so that it is available to provide warranty service for your orthosis.  This information may include name, address, phone number, orthosis description, measurements, date of service, provider of service and any other information deemed necessary to provide warranty service to you or the ordering provider of service. 

We will use PHI for payment.  Example:  We will contact your insurer to determine whether it will pay for your treatment and the amount of your co-payment responsibility.  We will bill you or a third –party payor for the cost of your orthosis.  The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you as well as the treatment you are receiving.

We will use PHI for health care operations.   Example:  Genesis Medical Group, LLC may use information in your health record to monitor the performance of the staff members providing service to you.  This information will be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care and service we provide.

We are likely to use or disclose PHI for the following purposes:

Business Associates.  There are some services provided by us through contracts with business associates.  Examples include Genesis Medical Group independent representatives, billing companies, accounting firms, and law firms.  When these services are contracted for, we may disclose PHI about you to our business associate so that they can perform the job we have asked them to do.  To protect PHI about you, we require the business associate to appropriately safeguard the PHI.

Communication with individuals involved in your care or payment for your care.  Health professionals, using their professional judgment, may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any person you identify, PHI relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care.

Health-related communications.  We may contact you to provide reminders or information about your orthosis, treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  We may disclose to the FDA, or persons under the jurisdiction of the FDA, PHI relative to adverse events with respect to products, product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.

Worker’s Compensation.  We may disclose PHI about you to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to worker’s compensation or other similar programs established by law.

Public Health.  As required by law, we may disclose PHI about you to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.

Law Enforcement.  We may disclose PHI about you for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.

As required by law.  We must disclose PHI about you when required to do so by law.

Health oversight activities.  We may disclose PHI about you to an oversight agency for activities authorized by law.  These oversight activities include audits, investigations, and inspections, as necessary for our licensure and for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights law.

Judicial and administrative proceedings.   If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose PHI about you in response to a court or administrative order.  We may also disclose PHI about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the requested PHI.

We are permitted to use or disclose PHI about you for the following purposes:

Research:  We may disclose PHI about you to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your information.

Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors:  We may release PHI about you to a coroner or medical examiner.  This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death.  We may also disclose PHI to funeral directors consistent with applicable law to carry out their duties.

Organ or tissue procurement organizations:  Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose PHI about you to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant

Fundraising:  We may contact you as part of a fundraising effort.

Notification:  We may use or disclose PHI about you to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, your location, and general condition.

Correctional Institution:  If you are or become an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or its agents PHI necessary for your health and the health and safety of others.

To avert a serious threat to health or safety:  We may use and disclose PHI about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.

Military and veterans:  If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release PHI about you as required by military command authorities.  We may also release PHI about foreign military personnel to the appropriate military authority.

National security and intelligence activities:  We may release PHI about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.

Protective services for the President and others:  We may disclose PHI about you to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state or conduct special investigations.

Victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence:  We may disclose PHI about you to a government authority, such as a social service or protective services agency, if we reasonably believe you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.  We will only disclose this type of information to the extent required by law, if you agree to the disclosure, or if the disclosure is allowed by law and we believe it is necessary to prevent serious harm to you or someone else or the law enforcement or public official that is to receive the report represents that it is necessary and will not be used against you.

Other Uses and Disclosures of PHI

Genesis Medical Group, LLC. will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing PHI about you for purposes other than those provided for above or as otherwise permitted or required by law.  You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time.  Upon receipt of the written revocation, we will stop using or disclosing PHI about you, except to the extent that we have already taken action in the reliance on the authorization.

For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have questions or would like additional information about Genesis Medical Group’s privacy practices, you may contact their Compliance Officer at (503) 231-1529.  If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with their Compliance Officer or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  There will be not retaliation for filing a complaint.

Effective Date

This Notice is effective as of April 14, 2003.