Biles Family Chiropractic

Privacy Policy

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW CHIROPRACTIC AND MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.  PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

In the course of your care as a patient at Biles Family Chiropractic, we may use of disclose personal and health related information about you in the following ways:

  • Your personal health information, including your clinical records, may be disclosed to another health care provider or hospital if it is necessary to refer you for further diagnosis, assessment or treatment.
  • Your health care records as well as your billing records maybe disclosed to another party, such as an insurance carrier, an HMO, a PPO, or your employer (if they are/ or may be responsible for the payment of your services).
  • Your name, address, phone number, and your health care records may be used to contact you regarding appointment reminders, to provide information about alternatives to your present care, or other health related information that may be of interest to you.

You have the right to request restrictions on our use of your protected health information for treatment, payment and operations purposes.  Such requests are not automatic and require the agreement of this office.

                 

If you are not at home to receive an appointment reminder, a message may be left on your answering machine.  Further, you have the right to inspect or obtain a copy of the information we will use for these purposes.  You also have the right to refuse to provide authorization for this office to contact you regarding these matters.  If you do not provide us with this authorization it will not affect the care provided to you or the reimbursement avenues associated with you care.

Under federal law, we are also permitted or required to use or disclose your health information without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances:

  • If we are providing health care services to you based on the orders of another health care provider.
  • If we provide health care services to you in an emergency.
  • If we are required by law to provide care to you and we are unable to obtain your consent after attempting to do so.
  • If there are substantial barriers to communicating with you, but in our professional judgment we believe that you intend for us to provide care.
  • If we are ordered by the courts or another appropriate agency.

You have the right to receive an accounting of any such disclosures made by this office.

Any use or disclosure of your protected health information, other than as described in the examples outlined above, will only be made upon your written authorization.

Information that we use or disclose based on this privacy notice may be subject to re-disclosure by the person to whom we provide the information and may no longer be protected by the federal privacy rules.

We normally provide information about your health care to you in person at the time you receive chiropractic care from us.  We may also mail information to you regarding your health care or about the status of your account.  If you would like to receive this information at an address other than your home or, if you would like the information in a different form, please advise us in writing as to your preferences.

We are required by state and federal law to maintain the privacy of your patient file and the protected health information therein.  We are also required to provide you with this notice of our privacy practices with respect to your health information.

We reserve the right to alter or amend to the terms of this privacy notice.  If changes are made to our privacy notice, we will notify you in writing as soon as possible following the changes.  Any change in our privacy notice will apply for all of your health information in our files.

If you have a complaint regarding our privacy notice, our privacy practices or any aspect of our privacy activities you should direct your complaint to:  Dr. Laura Biles

If you would like further information about our privacy policies and practices please contact:  Dr. Laura Biles                                                    

         You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Security of the Department of Health and Human Services.  If you choose to lodge a complaint with this office or with the Security your care will continue and you will not be disadvantaged by this office or staff in any manner whatsoever.

         This office utilizes an “open-adjusting” environment for ongoing patient care.  “Open-adjusting” involves several patients being seen in the same adjusting room at the same time.  Patients are within sight of one another and some ongoing routine details of care are discussed within earshot of other patients and staff.  This environment is used for ongoing care and this in NOT the environment used for taking patient histories, providing examinations or presenting report of findings.  These procedures are completed in a private, confidential setting.  The use of this format is intended to make your experience with our office more efficient and productive as well as to enhance your access to quality health care and health information.  If you choose not to be adjusted in an open-adjusting environment, other arrangements will be made for you.

         This notice is effective as of November 1, 2002.   This notice, and any alterations or amendments made hereto, will expire seven years after the date upon which it was created.