HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Zaragoza Family Clinic is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and related services. For example:

• Sharing information with other healthcare providers involved in your care
• Consulting with specialists about your treatment
• Coordinating care between different departments or facilities
• Providing information to family members or friends involved in your care (with your consent)

Payment

We may use and disclose your health information for payment activities, including:

• Billing and collection activities
• Claims management and related healthcare data processing
• Medical necessity determinations and reviews
• Utilization review and pre-authorization of services

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your health information for healthcare operations, such as:

• Quality assurance and improvement activities
• Healthcare provider credentialing and performance evaluation
• Medical staff peer review activities
• Training programs and educational activities
• Business planning and development

Special Situations Where We May Use or Disclose Your Information

Required by Law

We may disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health Activities

• Reporting communicable diseases to public health authorities
• Reporting suspected abuse or neglect
• Reporting adverse reactions to medications or medical devices
• Workplace surveillance and investigations

Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose health information to government agencies for activities such as audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure.

Legal Proceedings

We may disclose health information in response to court orders, subpoenas, or other lawful processes.

Emergency Situations

We may use or disclose your health information in emergency treatment situations or to identify or locate you in case of emergency.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to Access

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information. To request access to your records, please contact our office. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying costs.

Right to Request Amendment

If you believe that information in your medical record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend the information. Your request must be in writing and include a reason for the amendment.

Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information. We are not required to agree to all requests but will consider each request carefully.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you may ask that we contact you at work instead of home.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made by us for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice

You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this notice and make the new notice apply to health information we already have as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post the current notice in our office and on our website.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Minimum Necessary Standard

When using or disclosing health information or requesting health information from another healthcare provider, we will make reasonable efforts to limit the information to the minimum amount necessary to accomplish the intended purpose.

Business Associates

We may disclose your health information to business associates who perform services on our behalf. We require these associates to protect your health information through written agreements.

Marketing and Fundraising

We do not use your health information for marketing purposes without your written authorization. We do not engage in fundraising activities that would require the use of your health information.

Genetic Information

We will not use or disclose genetic information for underwriting purposes. Genetic information will be treated as health information under this notice.