This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information, please review this notice carefully.

For Information Please Contact:  Marsha Simmons, Privacy Officer, Columbia Basin Health Association, 140 E. Main, Othello WA 99344, 509-488-5256, marshas@cbha.org

Columbia Basin Health Association respects your privacy.  We understand that your personal health information is very sensitive.  We will not disclose your information to others unless you tell us to do so, unless the law authorizes or requires us to do so.

The Law protects the privacy of the health information we create and obtain in providing our care and services to you.  For example, your protected health information includes your symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment, health information from other providers, billing and payment information relating to these services.  Federal and State law allows us to use and disclose your protected health information for purposes of treatment and health care operations.  State law requires us to get your authorization to disclose this information for payment purposes.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

We are required to keep your protected health information private, give this notice, and follow the terms of this Notice.

USES AND DISCLOSURES

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information.

We may use and disclose your personal health information for these purposes:

For Treatment:  Information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of our health care team will be recorded in your medical record and used to help decide what care may be right for you.

We may also provide information to others providing you care.  This will help them stay informed about your care.

For Payment:  We request payment from your health insurance plan.  Health plans need information from us about your medical care.  Information provided to health plans may include your diagnosis, procedures performed, or recommended care.

For Health Care Operations:  We use your medical records to assess quality and improve service.

We may use and disclose medical records to review the qualifications and performance of our health care providers and to train staff.

We may contact you to remind you about appointments and give you information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services.

We may use and disclose your information to conduct or arrange for services, including:

Medical quality review by your health plan;

Accounting, legal, risk management, and insurance services;

Audit functions, including fraud and abuse detection and compliance programs.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES OF YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Notification of Family and Others:   Unless you object, we may release health information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care.  We may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care.  We may tell your family and friends your condition and that you are in a hospital.  In addition, we may disclose health information about you to assist in disaster relief efforts.

We may use and disclose your protected health information without your authorization as follows:

With Medical Researchers—if the research has been approved and has policies to protect the privacy of your health information.  We may also share information with medical researchers preparing to conduct a research project.

To Funeral Directors/Coroners—consistent with applicable law to allow them to carry out their duties.

To Organ Procurement Organizations (tissue donation and transplant) or persons who obtain, store or transplant organs.

To the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to problems with food, supplements, and products.

To comply with workers compensation laws—if you make a workers’ compensation claim.

For Public Health and Safety purposes as allowed or required by law.

To prevent or reduce a serious, immediate threat to the health  or safety of a person or the public

To public health or legal authorities

To protect public health and safety

To prevent or control disease, injury, or disability

To report vital statistics such as births and deaths

To report suspected Abuse or Neglect to public authorities

To Correctional Institutions if you are in jail or prison, as necessary for your health and the health and safety of others.

For Law Enforcement Purposes such as when we receive a subpoena, court order or other legal process, or you are the victim of a crime.

For Health and Safety oversight activities. For example, we may share health information with the Department of Health.

For Disaster Relief Purposes. For example, we may share health information with disaster relief agencies in notification of your condition to family and others.

For Work Related Conditions that could affect Employee Health. For example, an employer may ask us to assess health risks on the job.

To the Military Authorities of U.S. and Foreign Military Personal.  For example, the law may require us to provide in formation necessary to a military mission.

In the Course of Judicial/Administrative Proceedings at your request, or as directed by a subpoena or court order.

For Specialized Government Functions. For example, we may share information for national security purposes.

YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION RIGHTS

The health and billing records we create and store are the property of the practice/health care facility.  The protected health information in it, however, generally belongs to you.  You have a right to:

Receive, read, and ask questions about this notice;

Ask us to restrict certain uses and disclosures.  You must deliver this request in writing to us.  We are not required to grant the request.  But we will comply with any request granted;

Request and receive from us a paper copy of the most current Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information;

Request that you be allowed to see and get a copy of your protected health information.  You may make this request in writing.  We have a form available for this type of request;

Have us review a denial of access to your health information-except in certain circumstances;

Ask us to change your health information.  You may give us this request in writing.  You may write a statement of disagreement if your request is denied.  It will be stored in your medical record, and included with any release of your records.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to change this notice and to make the changed notice effective for all of the health information that we maintain about you, whether it is information that we previously received about you or information we may receive about you in the future.  We will post a copy of current notice in our facility.  Our notice will indicate the effective date on the first page, in the top right-hand corner.  We will give you a copy of our current notice upon request.

WEB SITE

We have a Web site that provides information about us.  For your benefit, this Notice is on the Web site at this address:  www.cbha.org

COMPLAINTS