NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Effective Date:   01/01/08
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.

 Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. is required by law to provide you with this Notice of our Privacy Practices. Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. will request that you sign a form to acknowledge you have received a copy of this notice.  The acknowledgment form will become a permanent part of your medical record.

 Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. respects your privacy  and we understand that your personal health information is very sensitive. Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. is required to keep your protected health information private. We will not disclose your information to others unless you tell (authorize) us to do so, or unless the law authorizes or requires us to do so.

 USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

 The law protects the privacy of the health information we create and obtain in providing our care and services to you.  For example, your protected health information includes your symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment, health information from other providers, demographic information, billing and payment information relating to these services.  Federal and state law allows us to use and disclose your protected health information without your authorization for the following purposes:

Ø      Treatment

Ø      Payment

Ø      Health Care Operations

Ø      Appointment reminders

Ø      As required by law

Ø      To avert a serious treat to health and safety

Ø      As required by the Military or Veterans and Worker’s Compensation

Ø      Public Health risks

Ø      Health oversight activities

Ø      Coroners, health examiners and funeral directors

Ø      Organ and tissue donation

Ø      National Security and Intelligence activities

Ø      Lawsuits and disputes - with subpoena, warrant, court order or similar process

Ø      Law enforcement – reporting of crimes, injuries as required by law i.e. gunshot wounds, in response to court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process

Ø      Correctional institutions – if you are an inmate of a correctional institution or in the custody of law enforcement

Ø      Food and Drug Administration – reporting of adverse events, product defects or recalls

Ø      To report suspected abuse or neglect

Ø      For disaster relief purpose

Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. may release health information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care.  We may also provide information to someone who helps pay for your care.  You have the right to object to this use or disclosure of your information. Requests to restrict disclosure or use of your information must be made in writing (see below). 

YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION RIGHTS 

Ø      Right to inspect and copy information

Ø      Right to amend or correct your information

Ø      Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

Ø      Right to request restriction on release of information

Ø      Right to request confidential communications

Ø      Right to ask Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. to review a denial of access to your health information

Ø      Right to file a complaint with Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. or the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Svcs.

Ø      Right to a paper copy of this Notice 

The following requests to Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. must be made in writing (forms available at our reception and nursing desks): 

Ø      Request to inspect or view your protected health information

Ø      Request for copies of protected health information that were generated or created by another health care provider or institution

Ø      Request for copies of your entire medical record

Ø      Requests and authorizations to share your information with anyone not directly involved with your care i.e. attorney, accountant, fundraising and/or marketing activities etc

Ø      Request to restrict the release of your protected health information to anyone

Ø      Request for Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S. to review a denial of access to your health information

Ø      To revoke any previous authorization or request 

If you have questions about Cancer Care Northwest Centers, P.S.’s Privacy Notice, or if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact the Privacy Officer at 509-228-1000. You will not be retaliated against or penalized for filing a complaint.