Health Care Privacy Notice
Duke Medical Supply Inc. is required to comply with the following health care privacy rules as they relate to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA):
• Ensure that medical information that identifies you is kept private
• Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (Notice) of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to medical information about you; and
• Follow the terms of this Notice that are currently in effect.
Duke Medical Supply Inc. believes it is our duty to protect your health information because we understand that medical information about you and your health is personal. We are committed to protecting your personal medical information. We create a record of your medical services and products you receive through your transactions with Duke Medical Supply Inc. This record is needed to provide you with quality care and to comply with legal requirements. This Notice applies to all records of your care whether generated by Duke Medical Supply Inc. or obtained from other heath care entities you may be associated with. These other health care entities may have different policies or notices regarding the use and/or disclosure of your medical information.
How Duke Medical Supply may use and disclose your protected health information
The following categories describe ways that Duke Medical Supply Inc. may use and/or disclose protected health information. Protected Health information is any information about you that may link you to your medical condition or information. For each category, we will explain the types of information that will be disclosed and give at least one example. All of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of these categories. However, not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed.
For Treatment
We may use protected health information to provide you with medical services and products. We may disclose protected information about you to Physicians, nurses or other health care entities to provide you with supplies. For example, we may request diagnosis information about you from your physician to ensure that the correct supplies are being provided for treatment.
For Payment
We may use and/or disclose protected health information to bill and collect payment for health care services and products we provide. Also, we may disclose your protected information to other health care providers or entities involved in the coordination of your care for their billing purposes. For example, we may inform your health insurance provider about supplies you going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine if your plan will cover the supplies.
For Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose your protected health information for a variety of business activities that are called health care operations. For example, we may use your protected health information to evaluate the performance of our staff in providing services and products to you or to work with others who assist us in complying with this Notice and other applicable laws. Also, if you requested that we send order updates to your e-mail address, we may use and disclose protected health information for that purpose.
In addition to treatment payment and health care operations,
Duke Medical Supply Inc. may use and disclose your protected health information as follows:
Alternative Treatment/Supplies
We may use and disclose your information to inform you of new alternatives and products that may help you manage your health.
Marketing
We may use medical information about you to contact you by telephone or other means to advise you of services or products that may be available. However, your protected health information will not be disclosed to third parties for marketing purposes without your prior written approval.
Individuals Involved In Your Care Or Payment For Your Care
We may release protected health information about you to a friend or family member who you have listed as a contact involved in your medical care. Additionally, we may give information to an individual who helps pay for your care.
As Required By Law
We will use and disclose protected health information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law.
Public Health Risks
We may disclose protected health information about you for public health activities. Examples, of these include notification of product recalls or reporting problems about products.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose protected health information about you to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Examples of these activities include audits, investigations, inspections and licensure.
Lawsuits/Disputes/Court Proceedings
If you are involved in a lawsuit, dispute, or court proceeding, we may disclose protected health information about you in response to a court or administrative order. We may disclose protected health information about you in response to the following: Subpoenas, discovery requests or other lawful processes by others involved in the dispute. This will only be done if efforts have been made to inform you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
Law Enforcement
We may release protected health information about you if asked to do so by a law enforcement official.
*Threat to Health /Safety
We may use and disclose protected health information 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.
Certain Government Functions
We may release health information about you to authorized federal officials for the following government functions: intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security activities authorized by law; to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state; or to conduct special investigations; to a member of the armed forces as required by military command authorities; or to correctional institutions or laws enforcement officials.
Health-Related Benefits/Services
We may use and disclose medical information about you to inform you of health-related benefits, services or products that may help you manage your health.
Workers’ Compensation
We may release protected health information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
Supply Reminders
We may use and disclose your protected health information to contact you about your supply needs and provide supply reminders.
Other uses of medical information
Other uses and disclosures of medical information not included in this Notice or by laws that apply to its use will be made only with your written authorization. If you provide us with permission to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose information about you for the all reasons stated in your request. Note: We are not able to take back any disclosure(s) that have been previously made with your authorization or pursuant to this Notice of Privacy Practices. Additionally, we are required by law to retain records of medical services and products that we provide to you for a specific period of time.
You have the following rights regarding your protected health information
Right To Inspect And Receive A Copy
You have the right to inspect and to receive a copy of your protected health information that may be used to make a decision about your care. Usually, this includes medical and billing records. If you request a copy of your information, it must be submitted in writing and we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. We may deny your request in certain circumstances. You will be provided with a reason for any denied request.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request that we limit how we use or disclose your protected health information. We will consider your request, but are not legally bound to agree to the restrictions. We can not limit use or disclosure that is required by law.
Right to Choose How We Contact You
You have the right to request that we contact you at an alternate address or by alternate means.
Right to Have Protected Health Information Amended
You have the right to request that we amend, correct or supplement your protected health information maintained by Duke Medical Supply Inc. Note: Duke Medical Supply Inc. may request that this information be submitted in writing. If you believe that we have information that is either inaccurate or incomplete, we may amend, correct or supplement the information and notify others who have copies of the information you deem to be inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny your request under certain circumstances. You will be provided with a reason for a denial.
Right to Find Out What Disclosures Have Been Made
You have a right to request a detailed listing of disclosures other than for disclosures for which you have give consent or signed an authorization (Examples include for treatment, payment, operations, law enforcement or to you or your family). This request must be submitted in writing and include your name, address and a time period, which may not be longer than six (6) years and may not include dates prior to 4/14/2003. There will be no charge for one (1) list request per year. For additional lists, there may be a fee charged to cover preparing additional lists.
Right to Receive This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice and/or an electronic copy by e-mail upon request. Note: copies of this Notice are also available from our website www.dukemedicalsupply.com
Right to File A Complaint About Or Privacy Practices
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated or if you are dissatisfied with our privacy policies or procedures, you may file a complaint with the Privacy Officer at Duke Medical Supply Inc. (636 326 7663) or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. We will not take any action against you or change our professional treatment of you in any way.
Changes to this notice
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices that are described in this Notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed privacy practices applicable to protected health information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. A copy of our current Notice will be posted in our offices and at our website, www.dukemedicalsupply.com Prior to a material change in this Notice, we will promptly revise and repost it. The Notice will contain the effective date in the bottom left hand corner of the final page.
