HIPAA Statement

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

The Notice of Privacy Practices is required by the Privacy Regulations stemming from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 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.

At Sharp Hearing, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI). This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed, and how you can access that information.

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal health information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you have the right to request restrictions on the use or disclosure of your protected health information for purposes of treatment, payment, and/or healthcare operations.

Treatment refers to the provision, coordination, or management of your hearing healthcare services. For example, we may use and disclose your information to consult with another healthcare provider or to refer you for additional services. Except in emergency circumstances, we will obtain your written consent before disclosing your information outside of our practice for treatment purposes.

Payment includes activities necessary to obtain reimbursement for services rendered. For example, we may provide your health plan with information regarding treatment received at our office so that we may be paid or so you may be reimbursed. We will obtain your written consent prior to making disclosures for payment purposes.

Healthcare operations involve the administrative and operational activities necessary to run our practice. For example, we may use your information for quality assessment, review of services provided, and evaluation of staff performance.

If you have questions regarding our privacy practices or believe your privacy rights may have been violated, please contact:

Sharp Hearing
140 West 2100 South, Ste 120
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
(801) 484-3277

If your concern is not resolved through our office, you may submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Filing a complaint will not result in retaliation of any kind.

This Notice of Privacy Practices requires us to:

As part of providing care to you, we create and maintain health information — commonly referred to as a medical record — that identifies you. It is often necessary to use or disclose this information in order to provide treatment, obtain payment, and conduct healthcare operations.

This Notice of Privacy Practices requires us to:

Maintain the privacy of your medical records and provide you with this Notice.
Revise our privacy practices and update the terms of this Notice at any time, with such revisions applying to all protected health information we maintain, including information previously obtained.

We reserve the right to make significant changes to our privacy practices and to revise this Notice accordingly. You may request a current copy of this Notice at any time, and we will provide one upon request.

The following is a description of the different circumstances that may require our practice to use or disclose your medical information:

We may use or disclose your medical information in the following circumstances:

Share information with another healthcare provider involved in your care (including physicians, audiologists, nurses, healthcare professionals, technicians, students in healthcare, and others responsible for your treatment), including making referrals and placing laboratory or prescription orders.
Provide your health insurance plan with information related to treatment received at our practice for purposes of claims processing, reimbursement, or benefit determinations.
Communicate with you regarding treatment alternatives or other health-related products or services. If we or a business associate receive financial remuneration for such communications, we will obtain your written authorization, unless the communication is face-to-face or involves a promotional gift of nominal value.
Disclose medical information to a medical examiner for identification of a deceased individual, determination of cause of death, or for purposes related to tissue donation.
Disclose medical information if you are active military personnel or a veteran, when required by appropriate military authorities.
Provide medical information to public health or law enforcement officials authorized to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability.
Share medical information with representatives of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for purposes such as reporting adverse effects of products, product defects, or other regulatory concerns.
Disclose information as necessary to comply with Workers’ Compensation laws.
Release medical information in response to a court order or administrative order in connection with a lawsuit or similar legal proceeding.
Contact you regarding fundraising activities conducted by our practice. You have the right to opt out of such communications by submitting a written request to the Privacy Officer.
For marketing purposes in which our practice or business associates receive financial remuneration, for disclosures that constitute the sale of protected health information, and for any other purpose not described in this Notice, we will obtain your written authorization prior to disclosure. You may revoke such authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent action has already been taken in reliance on the authorization.
When disclosure is required by law. Any such disclosure will comply strictly with applicable legal requirements and will be limited to the scope required. Where state or federal law is more restrictive than HIPAA, we will adhere to the more stringent requirements.
To business associates performing functions on behalf of our practice, provided they have entered into a written agreement requiring them to safeguard your protected health information.
Share information concerning your condition, location, or death with family members or your designated personal representative. Your permission will be obtained whenever possible, except in emergency situations. If permission cannot be obtained, we will disclose only the information directly relevant and necessary for your healthcare.

You have individual rights as part of the notice of Privacy Practices. As a patient of Sharp Hearing you have the right to:

To request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information. We are not required to agree to a requested restriction except when you request that we restrict disclosure of your protected health information to a health plan for purposes of payment or healthcare operations for services paid in full out-of-pocket. Requests must be submitted in writing to the address listed in this Notice and must specify:
(a) the information you wish to limit,
(b) whether you want to limit use, disclosure, or both, and
(c) to whom the restriction should apply.
To receive notification in the event of a breach involving your unsecured protected health information.
To request confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations. This request must be made in writing.
To obtain copies of your medical records and/or a copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices. Please notify our office if you require copies.
To request an amendment to your health information if you believe it is incomplete or inaccurate. If our audiologist, hearing healthcare professional, or authorized staff determine that your medical record is accurate and complete, we may deny the requested amendment. Requests for amendments must be submitted in writing to Sharp Hearing.
To receive an accounting of disclosures of your medical information made by our practice or our business associates during the six (6) years prior to the date of your request, excluding disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and other legally permitted exceptions.
To request a paper copy of this Notice if you have received it electronically. This request must be submitted in writing to Sharp Hearing.