HIPAA Information

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, “HIPAA” protects your privacy. The implementation of HIPAA requirements officially began on April 14, 2003. HIPAA provides the patient with rights and protections. We balance these rights and protections with our goal of providing you with quality professional care and service. For additional information on HIPAA, please visit www.hhs.gov. 

We’ve adopted the following policies: 

1. Patient information is kept confidential, except when required by law or by public health authorities authorized by law to collect or receive certain information, or when necessary to carry out treatments, payments, transactions and our laboratory operations. This may include sharing your information with healthcare providers, laboratories and medical plans when necessary, and appropriate, for your care and attention. It’s possible that the patient’s medical record is kept in a file that’s located in an open area in the laboratory or isn’t a closed file, and that the record no longer contains a code that identifies the patient’s condition or any information necessary for public knowledge. In order to provide you with necessary care, the medical record may temporarily be in administrative areas such as the main office, examination room, etc. The record won’t be available to individuals who aren’t part of the laboratory or medical team. You agree to this process that takes place within the laboratory when examining your file and other documents regarding your information.
2. It’s the laboratory’s policy to remind patients of their medical appointment. This can be done by phone, email, or another convenient method for the laboratory, or one requested by the patient. They may also receive a communication informing them of a change to the office policy or a medical technology in the laboratory that could be of interest to the patient.
3. I understand and approve inspections carried out in laboratories and the review of documents that may include protected health information (“PHI”) by government agencies or health plan providers.
4. You agree to communicate any questions or suggestions regarding the privacy of your information to the laboratory administrator or the doctor.
5. Your confidential information won’t be used for marketing purposes or to advertise products or services, except to provide information on laboratory services.
6. We agree to provide the patient with access to his or her medical record in accordance with state and federal law.
7. We may modify these policies to better serve the needs of the patient and the laboratory.
8. You have the right to restrict the use of your medical information and to request changes to certain policies that are used regarding your medical information. However, we aren’t required to alter internal policies to conform to your request.