HIPAA PRIVACY POLICY - Your privacy matters

In 1996, Congress passed legislation to provide continuity of coverage when individuals switch health plans and to ensure the security and privacy of protected health information. Clearwater Medical Clinic has always been committed to protecting individuals' health information and will continue its commitment by ensuring compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy requirements.

This rule – the first federal rule to protect the privacy of health information –establishes basic national privacy standards for healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses to follow, in order to protect patients and encourage them to seek needed care. The HIPAA Privacy Rule grants healthcare consumers several rights regarding their privacy and protected health information. Clearwater Medical Clinic has instituted documents, policies and procedures that address these rights.

These include the right to:

• Receive Clearwater Medical Clinic's Written Notice of Privacy Practices, which details individual rights and provides examples about how health information is used for treatment, payment, and health care operations.
• Request a restriction on specific uses and disclosures of protected health information.
• Receive confidential communications of health information.
• Access, inspect and copy protected health information.
• Request amendment and/or correction of protected health information.
• Receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information.
• File a complaint with Clearwater Medical Clinic as well as with the Department of Health and Human Services

Privacy Fact Sheets available to consumers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) privacy listserv offers two fact sheets available on its Web site. The first, "Privacy and Your Health Information," provides a general overview of the HIPAA privacy rule and individual rights associated with the rule. The second, "Your Health Information Privacy Rights," focuses on each of the privacy rights included under the rule. Both sheets can be obtained from the OCR Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/.

Forms

Acknowledgment of Receipt of HIPAA Policy

Health and History Intake Form

Medical Records Release Form

New Patient Information Form

Notice of Privacy Practices