Notice of Privacy Practice

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.

In accordance with federal and state law, Idaho Diagnostic Sleep Center, Inc., is committed to maintaining the privacy of your Protected Health Information ("PHI"). Your PHI includes information about your health condition and the care and treatment you receive from Idaho Diagnostic Sleep Center, Inc. This notice explains how your PHI may be used and disclosed to third parties. This notice also informs you of your rights regarding your PHI.

  1. HOW IDAHO DIAGNOSTIC SLEEP CENTER (IDSC) MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROCECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
    1. Treatment. To provide you with the health care you require, IDSC may use and disclose your PHI to those health care professionals, whether on IDSC's staff or not, so that it may provide, coordinate, plan and manage your health care.
    2. Heath Care Operations. To operate in accordance with applicable law and insurance requirements, and to provide quality and efficient care, IDSC may need to compile, use, and disclose your PHI. For example, IDSC may use your PHI to evaluate the performance of the Sleep Center's staff in providing care to you.
    3. Payment. To get paid for services provided to you, IDSC may provide your PHI, directly or through a billing service, to a third party who may be responsible for your care, including insurance companies and health plans. If necessary, IDSC may use your PHI in other collection efforts with respect to all persons who may be liable for IDSC's bills related to your care. For example, IDSC may need to provide your insurance with information about health care services that you received at the Sleep Center so that IDSC can be reimbursed. IDSC may also need to tell your insurance plan about treatment you are going to receive so that it can determine whether or not it will cover the treatment expense.
    4. Appointment Reminders. IDSC may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. These appointment reminders may include letters or telephoning your home and leaving a message on your answering machine or with the individual answering the phone.
  2. OTHER USE AND DISCLOSURES WHICH MAY BE PERMITTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW
    1. De-identified Information. IDSC may use and disclose health information that may be related to your care but does not identify you and cannot be used to identify you.
    2. Business Associate. IDSC may use and disclose PHI to a business associate if IDSC obtains satisfactory written assurance, in accordance with applicable law, that the business associate will appropriately safeguard your PHI. A business associate is an entity that assists IDSC in undertaking some essential function.
    3. Personal Representative. IDSC may use and disclose PHI to: a person who, under applicable law, has the authority to represent you in making decisions related to your health care.
    4. Emergency Situations. IDSC may use and disclose PHI: for the purpose of obtaining or rendering emergency treatment to you provided that IDSC attempts to obtain your consent as soon as possible; or to a public or private entity authorized by law or by its charter to assist in disaster relief efforts, for the purpose of coordinating your care with such entities in an emergency situation.
    5. Public Health Activities. IDSC may use and disclose PHI when authorized by law to provide information if it believes that the disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm.
    6. Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence. IDSC may use and disclose PHI when required by law to provide information if it believes that the disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm.
    7. Health Oversight Activities. IDSC may use and disclose PHI when required by law to provide information if it believes that the disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm. IDSC may use and disclose PHI when required by law to provide information in criminal investigations, disciplinary actions, or other activities relating to the community's health care system.
    8. Judicial and Administrative Proceeding. IDSC may use and disclose PHI in response to a court order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
    9. Law Enforcement Purposes. IDSC may use and disclose PHI, when authorized, to a law enforcement official.
    10. Coroner or Medical Examiner. IDSC may use and disclose PHI to a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying your or determining your cause of death.
    11. Research. IDSC may use and disclose PHI subject to applicable legal requirements if IDSC is involved in research activities.
    12. Avert a Threat to Health or Safety. IDSC may use and disclose PHI if it believes that such disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public and the disclosure is to an individual who is reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat.
    13. Specialized Government Functions. IDSC may use and disclose PHI when authorized by law with regard to certain military and veteran activity.
    14. Workers' Compensation. IDSC may use and disclose PHI if you are involved in a Workers' Compensation claim, to an individual or entity that is part of the Workers' Compensation system.
    15. National Security and Intelligence Activities. IDSC may use and disclose PHI to authorized governmental officials with necessary intelligence information for national security activities.
    16. Military and Veterans. IDSC may use and disclose PHI if you are a member of the armed forces, as required by the military command authorities.
  3. AUTHORIZATION

    Uses and/or disclosures, other than those described above will be made only with your written authorization.

  4. YOUR RIGHTS

    You have the right to:

    1. Revoke any Authorization or consent you have given to IDSC, at any time. To request a revocation, you must submit a written request to IDSC.
    2. Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosure of your PHI as proved by law. Except in certain instances, IDSC may not be obligated to agree to any requested restrictions. To request restrictions, you must submit a written request to IDSC. In your written request, you must inform IDSC of what information you want to limit, whether you want to limit IDSC's use, disclosure, or both, and to whom you want the limits to apply. If IDSC agrees to your request, IDSC will comply with your request unless the information is needed in order to provide you with emergency treatment.
    3. Inspect and copy your PHI as provided by law.
    4. Amend your PHI as provided by law. To request an amendment, you must submit a written request to IDSC. You must provide a reason that supports your request. IDSC may deny your request if it is not in writing, if you do not provide a reason in support of your request, if the information to be amended was not created by IDSC (unless the individual or entity that created the information is no longer available), if the information is not part of your PHI maintained by IDSC, if the information is not part of the information you would be permitted to inspect and copy, and/or if the information is accurate and complete.
    5. Receive an accounting of disclosures of your PHI as provided by law.
    6. Receive a paper copy of this Privacy Notice from IDSC upon request.
    7. Complain to IDSC or to the Secretary of HHS if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
  5. IDAHO DIAGNOSTIC SLEEP CENTER'S REQUIREMENTS

    Idaho Diagnostic Sleep Center, Inc.:

    1. Is required by federal law to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with this Privacy Notice detailing IDSC's legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI.
    2. May be required by State law to maintain greater restrictions on the use or release of your PHI than that which is provided for under federal law.
    3. Is required to abide by the terms of this Privacy Notice.
    4. Reserves the right to change the terms of this privacy Notice and to make the new Privacy Notice provisions effective for your PHI that it maintains.
    5. Will distribute any revised Privacy Notice to you prior to implementation.
    6. Will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
  6. EFFECTIVE DATE

    This notice is in effect as of April 14, 2003.

  7. HOW TO FILE COMPLAINTS

    Complaints against Idaho Diagnostic Sleep Center, Inc., regarding the privacy of PHI, should be sent to:

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    200 Independence Ave., SW Room 509F
    HHH Building
    Washington, D.C. 20201
    1-800-368-1019

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© 2008 Idaho Diagnostic Sleep Center.