Privacy policy

This policy describes how the information O2PT collects about you may be used and disclosed and how you have access to this information.  Please review it carefully.

Our mission is to improve health and well-being in partnership with our patients and community. We want you to feel supported and informed in your care and coverage. This includes explaining how we use and manage your information, and your rights and choices related to that information. Privacy is a complicated subject. We know it can be confusing, especially as different state and federal laws come into play. We honor the trust you place in us by choosing us for your treatment and care. We hope this summary of your rights and choices, and our responsibilities for how we use and share your information, helps you understand how we follow the law and honor your trust.

Your information. In this notice, when we use “your information” we’re referring to information that identifies you and may have any reference to your health or condition, your health care services, or payment for those services. It includes health information, like diagnosis and treatment plans. It also includes demographic information like your name, address, phone number and date of birth. When it comes to your information and privacy, you have important rights under state and federal law. This section explains those rights. Ask us about them and we’ll explain the process, including if you need to put your request in writing.

You have the right to:

You can request your information any time in paper or electronic format.

  • You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your information. We’ll provide a copy or a summary of your information as quickly as possible. If there are records that we can’t share or if we limit access, we’ll help you understand why.

  • You can ask us to correct your information if you tell us why you think it’s incorrect or incomplete. We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing as quickly as possible. In that case, you can ask us to keep a copy of your disagreement (a written statement you provide to us) with your records.

  • You can ask us not to use or share your information. We’ll always consider your request, but we may say “no” if it would affect our ability to provide care or service to you, or if we are unable to make the change in our systems. If you pay the full amount out-of-pocket for a service or item, you can ask us when you check in not to share information about that service or item with your health plan. We’ll honor your request unless the law requires us to share that information with your health plan.

  • You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We’ll do our best to meet your needs.

  • You can ask for a list (an “accounting”) of the times we’ve shared your information with outside organizations or individuals, who we shared it with, and why. We’ll include all the times we’ve shared your information, except for when it was abou    t your treatment, payment for your treatment or health care operations, and certain other time’s when we’ve released your information (such as if you asked us to share it and releases we’ve already told you about).

  • Receive a paper copy of this notice. You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time. We’ll provide it right away. This notice is also available at O2PT.com

  • File a complaint if you feel your privacy rights have been violated. You can complain directly to us if you feel we’ve violated your privacy rights by contacting us using the information on the last page of this notice. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Find contact information at hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/. We will not act against you for making a complaint.

Your Choices. In some situations, you have additional choices about how we use and share your information. If you have a preference in the situations described below, let us know. Tell us what you want us to do, and we’ll follow your instructions while following the law.

You can tell us not to:

  • Share your information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.

  • Contact you to raise money to support our mission.

  • Share your information with others for health research. (We can still use your information for our own research as long as we follow the law.)

We must get your written permission before we:

  • Use or share your information to market another organization’s products or services.

  • Use or share your information to market our own products or services, if another organization is paying us to do it or if the products or services are not health-related.

  • Sell or rent your information to another organization.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

  • We protect your information because your privacy is important to us, and because it’s the law.

  • We must follow the responsibilities and privacy practices described in this notice.

  • We must make this notice available to you in our patient care locations and online at O2PT.com.

  • We can change this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. If we make significant changes, we’ll post the new notice at our patient care locations and online.

  • We’ll let you know quickly if a breach (unauthorized use or sharing) occurs that may have the privacy of your information at risk.

  • We won’t use or share your information except as covered in this notice, unless you tell us we can in writing. You may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

  • When the law requires us to get your permission in writing before we use or share your information, we’ll do so.

  • We will ask you for this permission when you first become a patient and occasionally after that. This allows us to better arrange for your care, payment for your care, and our operations as described below. If you don’t want to give us your permission, then we may not be able to bill your health plan for your services and may need to bill you personally. We may also not be able to coordinate your care.

How do we typically use and share your information? We typically use and share your information in the following ways:

  • To treat you (treatment). We use and share your information to treat you. We share it with other professionals and organizations that are treating you or managing your care, and to create a safe and more coordinated care experience for you. This includes sharing within organized health care arrangements, such as doctors on a hospital’s medical staff who work together to care for you. Example: As your primary care physician, we tell a specialty doctor who is treating you what medicines you’re taking, to avoid dangerous drug interactions. Example: We remind you of an upcoming appointment with us. Please note that we don’t need your permission to share your information in a medical emergency if you can’t give us permission due to your condition. Also, the organizations covered by this notice don’t need your permission to share your information with each other, as long as it’s to care for you or for another permitted purpose.

  • To bill for your services (self payment). We can use and share your information to bill and get paid by you and others for care that you receive. Example: We will give  information about the service we provided to you to you and you can bill health plan so it will pay you for those services. Example: We will not contact your health plan to see if a service is covered before we provide that care.

  • To run our organization (health care operations). We use and share your information to improve the quality of your care and experience, and to manage our operations.  Example: We use limited amounts of your information to help with licensing and accreditation, and evaluating quality. Example: We share limited amounts of your information with business associates – those we partner with to provide services on our behalf but who aren’t our employees or affiliates. These partners are required by law to safeguard your information the same way we do.

How else do we use or share your information? We’re allowed or required to share your information in other ways that relate to public health and legal activities. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes:

  • Follow the law. We use or share your information if state or federal law requires it.

  • Help with public health and safety issues. We share your information with public health authorities or other authorized agencies in certain situations such as to:

  • Prevent disease

  • Help with product recalls

  • Report adverse reactions to medications

  • Report suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence or crimes in our care locations

  • Prevent or reduce a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

  • Help with health system oversight, such as audits or investigations

  • Comply with special government functions such as military, national security, presidential protective services and disclosures to correctional facilities

  • Respond to organ and tissue donation requests

  • We use and share your information to help with organ or tissue donation.

  • Work with a medical examiner or funeral director

  • We share your information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director.

  • Handle workers’ compensation

  • We may use and share your information for your workers’ compensation claims.

  • Respond to lawsuits and legal actions. We can use and share your information for legal actions, or in response to a court or administrative order, or other lawful process.

  • We can share your information with authorized law enforcement officials.

With your written permission.  If we want to use or share your information in a way not covered in this notice, we’re required to get your written permission first.

FOR INFORMATION, QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS
Please contact us at your place of care if you have any questions about this notice.