This Notice of Privacy Practices ("Notice") describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you may get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Arjun Medical Group Pc ("Practice," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI"). This Notice explains how we may use and disclose your PHI, your rights regarding your PHI, and our legal duties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations (collectively, "HIPAA").
This Notice applies to the records of your care generated, maintained, or received by the Practice, including records created in paper, electronic, and oral form, to the extent protected by HIPAA.
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.
Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you.
We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request.
We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law.
Ask us to correct your medical record
You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete.
We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
Request confidential communications
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as at your home or office phone, mobile number, mailing address, email address, or another method.
You can ask us to send mail to a different address.
We will say "yes" to all reasonable requests.
Ask us to limit what we use or share
You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our health care operations.
We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say "no" if it would affect your care or if the law permits us not to agree.
If you pay for a service or health care item out of pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information with your health insurer for payment or our operations, and we will say "yes" unless a law requires us to share that information.
Get a list of those with whom we have shared information
You can ask for a list (an "accounting") of certain disclosures we made of your PHI for up to six years before the date you ask, not including disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, and certain other disclosures excluded by law.
We will provide one accounting a year for free but may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.
Get a copy of this privacy notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive the Notice electronically.
We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian or personal representative, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information, to the extent permitted by law.
We may require documentation showing that the person has such authority.
File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information in the Complaints section below.
You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Your Choices
For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions if we can and as required by law.
In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
- share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care;
- share information in a disaster relief situation; and
- contact you for fundraising efforts, if applicable.
If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety, when permitted by law.
In these cases, we never share your information unless you give us written permission:
- marketing purposes, except as permitted by law;
- sale of your information; and
- most sharing of psychotherapy notes, where applicable.
Our Uses and Disclosures
How do we typically use or share your health information? We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.
Treat you
We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.
Run our organization
We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.
Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.
Bill for your services
We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.
How else can we use or share your health information?
We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways, usually in ways that contribute to the public good, public health, or public policy. We must meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
Help with public health and safety issues
We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:
- preventing disease;
- helping with product recalls;
- reporting adverse reactions to medications;
- reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, as permitted or required by law; and
- preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone's health or safety.
Do research
We can use or share your information for health research when allowed by law.
Comply with the law
We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we are complying with federal privacy law.
Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.
Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.
Address workers' compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
We can use or share health information about you:
- for workers' compensation claims;
- for law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official;
- with health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law;
- for special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services.
Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Our Responsibilities
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and give you a copy of it.
We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
Additional Information About How We May Contact You
We may contact you by phone, voicemail, text message, email, patient portal message, or mail for purposes such as:
- appointment reminders;
- follow-up regarding care or scheduling;
- billing or payment matters;
- requests for additional information needed for your care or coverage; and
- other health care operations communications permitted by law.
If you request confidential communications, we will accommodate reasonable requests as described above.
Special Situations
Minors
In many cases, a parent, guardian, or other personal representative may exercise rights on behalf of a minor child, subject to applicable law.
Personal Representatives
We may treat a person with legal authority to act for you as having the same rights you have under HIPAA, subject to applicable law and verification of authority.
State Law
If state law provides greater privacy protections or additional rights than HIPAA, we will follow the applicable state law to the extent required.
Changes to This Notice
We can change the terms of this Notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website at https://dr.nyc/hipaa-notice-of-privacy-practices/.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
Contact Us / Privacy Officer
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
You may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights through its complaint portal or by mail, email, or fax. Current complaint information is available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Acknowledgment
Where required by law, we may ask you to sign or otherwise acknowledge that you received this Notice.