SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES As required by the Privacy Regulations Promulgated Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO YOUR IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. A. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY Our organization is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your identifiable health information. In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and services we provide to you. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. We are also required by law to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices concerning your identifiable health information. By law, we must follow the terms of our notice of privacy practices in effect at the time. To summarize, this notice provides you with the following important information: * How we may use and disclose your identifiable health information * Your privacy rights in your identifiable health information * Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your identifiable health information The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your identifiable health information that are created or retained by our practice. We reserve the right to revise, change, or amend our notice of privacy practices. Any revision or amendment to this notice will be effective for all of the information that we already have about you, as well as any of your medical information that we may receive, create, or maintain in the future. Our organization will post a copy of our current notice in our pharmacy in a prominent location. You may request a copy of our most current notice during any office visit. B. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT: Compliance Office, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 S. WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE: 908-862-4444 C. WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: The following categories describe the different ways in which we may use and disclose your identifiable health information: 1. Treatment. Our organization may use your identifiable health information to treat you. For example, we may perform a follow-up interview and we may use the results to help us modify your treatment plan. Many of the people who work for our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information in order to treat you or to assist others in your treatment. Additionally, we may disclose your identifiable health information to others who may assist in your care, such as your physician, therapist, spouse, children, or parents. 2. Payment. Our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information in order to bill and collect payment for services and items you may receive from us. For example, we may contact your health insurer to certify that you are eligible for benefits (and for what range of benefits), and we may provide your insurer with details regarding your treatment to determine if your insurer will cover or pay for your treatment. We may also use and disclose your identifiable health information to obtain payment from third parties who may be responsible for such costs, such as family members. Also, we may use and disclose your identifiable health information to bill you directly for services and items. 3. Health Care Operations. Our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information to operate our business. As examples of the ways in which we may use and disclose your information for our operations, our organization may use your health information to evaluate the quality of care you received from us or to conduct cost-management and business planning activities for our practice. 4. Appointment Reminders. Our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information to contact you and remind you of visits/deliveries. 5. Health-Related Benefits and Services. Our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information to inform you of health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you. 6. Release of Information to Family/Friends. Our organization may release your identifiable health information to a friend or family member who is helping you pay for your health care or who assists in taking care of you. 7. Disclosures Required by Law. Our organization will use and disclose your identifiable health information when we are required to do so by federal, state, or local law. D. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION IN CERTAIN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES The following categories describe unique scenarios in which we may use or disclose your identifiable health information: 1. Public Health Risk. Our organization may disclose your identifiable health information to public health authorities who are authorized by law to collect information for the purpose of: * Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths * Reporting child abuse or neglect * Preventing or controlling disease, injury, disability * Notifying a person regarding potential exposure to a communicable disease * Notifying a person regarding potential risk for spreading or contracting a disease or condition * Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices * Notifying individuals if a product or device they may be using has been recalled * Notifying appropriate government agencies and authorities regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult patient (including domestic violence); however, we will only disclose information if the patient agrees; are required or authorized by law to disclose this information * Notifying your employer under limited circumstances related primarily to workplace injury or illness or medical surveillance. 2. Health Oversight Activities. Our organization may disclose your identifiable health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities can include investigations; inspections; audits; surveys; licensure and disciplinary actions; civil, administrative, and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance with civil rights, and the health care system in general. 3. Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings. Our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information in response to a court or administrative order if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We may also disclose your identifiable health information in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process by another party involved in the dispute, but only if we have made an effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting the information the party has requested. 4. Law Enforcement. We may release identifiable health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official: * Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if we are unable to obtain a person's agreement * Concerning a death we believe may have resulted from criminal conduct * Regarding criminal conduct at our offices * In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena, or similar legal process * To identify/locate a missing person, suspect, material witness, fugitive * In an emergency, to report a crime (including the location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the perpetrator). 5. Serious Threats to Health or Safety. Our organization may use and disclose your identifiable health information when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public. Under these circumstances, we will only disclose to a person or organization able to help prevent the threat. 6. Military. Our organization may disclose your identifiable health information if you are a member of U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans) and if required by the appropriate military command authorities. 7. National Security. Our organization may disclose your identifiable health information to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose your identifiable health information to federal officials to protect the President, other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations. 8. Inmates. Our organization may disclose your identifiable health information to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials. This release would be necessary: (a) for the institution to provide you with health care; (b) for the safety and security of the institution; and/or (c) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of other individuals. 9. Worker's Compensation. Our organization may release your identifiable health information for workers' compensation and similar programs. E. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION You have the following rights regarding the identifiable health information that we maintain about you: 1. Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that our organization communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner, or at a certain location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you by mail, rather than by telephone, or at home, rather than work. In order to request a type of confidential communication, you must make a written request to Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE # 908-862-4444. Specifying the requested method of contact, or the location where you wish to be contacted. Our organization will accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request. 2. Requesting Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your identifiable health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request that we limit our disclosure of your identifiable health information to individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members or friends. We are not required to agree with your request. If we do agree, however, we are bound by our agreement except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your identifiable health information, you must make your request in writing to Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE # 908-862-4444. Your request must describe in a clear and concise fashion: (i) the information you wish restricted; (ii) whether you are requesting to limit our practice's use, disclosure, or both; and (iii) to whom you want the limits to apply. 3. Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the identifiable health information that may be used to make decisions about you, including prescription records and billing records, but not including psychotherapy notes. You must submit your request in writing to Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE # 908-862-4444, in order to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your identifiable health information. Our organization may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with your request. Our practice may deny your request to inspect and/or copy in certain limited circumstances. You may, however, request a review of our denial. Reviews will be conducted by another licensed health care professional chosen by us. 4. Amendment. You may ask us to amend your identifiable health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. You may request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for our organization. To request and amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to the Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE # 908-862-4444. You must provide us with a reason that supports your request for amendment. Our organization will deny your request if you fail to submit your request (and the reason supporting your request) in writing. Also, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that is: (a) accurate and complete; (b) not part of the identifiable health information kept by or for the organization; (c)not part of the identifiable health information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; (d) or not created by our organization unless the individual or entity that created the information is not available to amend the information. 5. Accounting of Disclosures. All of our patients have the right to request an accounting of disclosures. An accounting of disclosures is a list of certain disclosures our organization has made of your identifiable health information. In order to obtain an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE # 908-862-4444. All requests for an accounting of disclosures must state a time period that may not be longer than six years and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first request within a 12-month period is free of charge, but our practice may charge you for additional requests within the same 12-month period. Our organization will notify you of the costs involved with additional requests, and you may withdraw your request before you incur any costs. 6. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our notice of privacy practices. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. To obtain a paper copy of this notice, contact Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036. 7. Right to File a Complaint. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our organization or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with our organization, Compliance Officer, SOUTHWOOD RITA PHARMACY, 937 SOUTH WOOD AVE., LINDEN, NJ 07036 PHONE # 908-862-4444. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint. 8. Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and Disclosures. Our organization will obtain a written authorization for uses or disclosures that are not identified by this notice or not permitted by applicable law. You have the right to revoke any authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your identifiable health information at any time. Your revocation must be in writing. After you revoke the authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your identifiable health information for the reasons described in the authorization. Please also note that we are required to retain records of your care.