Our HIPAA Policy
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED OR DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULY.
Lifewellness Institute LEGAL DUTY
Lifewellness Institute is required by law to protect the privacy of your personal health information, provide this notice about our information practices, and follow the information practices that are described herein.
USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH PROMOTION
Lifewellness Institute uses your personal health information primarily for treatment, obtaining payment for treatment, conducting internal administrative activities, and evaluating the quality of care that we provide. For example, Lifewellness Institute may use your personal health information to contact you to provide appointment reminders, or information about treatment alternatives or other health related benefits that could be of interest to you.
Lifewellness Institute may also use or disclose your personal health information without prior authorization for public health purposes, for auditing purposes, for research studies and for emergencies. We also provide information when required by law. In any other circumstances, Lifewellness Institute’s policy is to obtain your written authorization before disclosing your personal health information. If you provide us with a written authorization to release your information for any reason, you may later revoke that authorization to stop further disclosures at any time. Lifewellness Institute may change its policy at any time. You may also request an updated copy of our Notice of Information Practices at any time.
UPDATED HIV REPORTING REGULATIONS
On April 17, 2006, California’s governor signed into law a new bill that requires health care providers and laboratories to report cases of HIV infection to the public health department using the patient’s name rather than an anonymous code. This measure complies with new conditions set by the CDC for states to receive federal funding of prevention services and care and treatment services.
The new law also imposes enhanced civil and criminal penalties for willful, malicious, or negligent disclosures of confidential HIV case information.
PATIENTS AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
You have the right to obtain a copy of your personal health information at any time. You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information in your records. You also have the right to request a list of instances where we have disclosed your personal health information for reasons other than treatment, payment or other related administrative purposes. You may also request in writing that we not use or disclose your personal health information for treatment, payment, or administrative purposes except when specifically authorized by you, when required by law, or in emergency circumstances. Lifewellness Institute will consider all such requests on a case-by-case basis, but the company is not legally required to accept them.
CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS
If you are concerned that Lifewellness Institute may have violated your privacy rights or if you disagree with any decisions we have made regarding the disclosure of your personal health information, please contact our office at the address listed below. You may also send a written complaint to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Our address is:
Lifewellness Institute
2448 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 130
San Diego CA, 92016
