Patient Rights
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact our Privacy Officer at 855-549-PAIN.
Physician Partners of America understands your privacy is important. This Privacy Notice describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to control your protected health information. Protected health information is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health condition or payment.
Understanding Your Health Record/Information
Each time you visit a hospital, physician, or other healthcare providers, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains personal demographic information, your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:
- Basis for planning your care and treatment;
- Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care;
- Legal document describing the care you received;
- Means by which you or a third party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided;
- A tool in educating health professionals;
- A source of data for medical research;
- A source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of the nation;
- A source of data for facility planning and marketing; and
- A tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render the outcomes we achieve.
Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to:
- Ensure its accuracy;
- Better understand who, what, when, where and why others may access your health information;
- Make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.
Your Health Information Rights:
Although your health record is the physical property of the healthcare practitioner or facility that compiled it, the information belongs to you. You have the right to:
- Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your information as provided by 45 CFR 164.522. However, we are not required to agree to the restriction’
- Inspect and copy your health record as provided for in 45 CFR 164.524 and Texas law. Usually this includes medical and billing records, but does not include psychotherapy notes. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request.
- Amend your health record as provided in 45 CRR 16426. To request an amendment, your request must be in writing and must provide a reason that supports your request. We may deny a request if you ask to amend information that:
- Was not created by us;
- Is not part of the medical information kept by PPOA;
- Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect or copy; or
- Is accurate or complete.
- Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your health information as provided in 45 CFR 164.528. To request this list or accounting of disclosures, your request must be in writing and must state the time period which may not be longer than six years and may not include dates before April 13, 2003. The first list you request within a 12 month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list.
- Request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations;
- Receive confidential communications of protected health information as provided in 45 CFR 164.522 (b), as applicable.