Whole Health New England

Notice of Privacy Practices and Patient Rights Under HIPAA
(effective as of September 1, 2005)

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and shared and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

WholeHealth New England (WHNE) is committed to protecting your medical information in our care.  This notice tells you about the way we may use and disclose that information.  It also describes your rights and our obligations when using and disclosing your medical information.  Please feel free to seek answers from us to any questions you have concerning this notice.
WHNE May Make the Following Uses and Disclosures of Your Medical Information Without Your Prior Authorization:

• Treatment. Your “Protected Health Information” (hereinafter, “medical information”) is shared among health care professionals involved in your care to coordinate or manage treatment.   An example of this would be another physician reviewing the treating physician’s record of a physical exam and patient history to confirm a diagnosis.
• Payment. Your medical information may be shared with your medical insurer to obtain reimbursement, confirm coverage, conduct billing or perform collection activities, and conduct utilization reviews. An example of this would be sending a bill for your visit to your insurance company for payment that identifies the services provided and diagnosis made. 
• Health Care Operations. Your medical information may be used to assess and improve quality of care or re-allocate resources. Non-patient specific information is used wherever possible.  An example of this is when WHNE is determining whether it should offer a service in the office that it must otherwise refer to another physician or establishment.
• Lawsuits and Disputes. WHNE may disclose your medical information in response to a court order, subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process.
• As Required by Law. Your medical information is disclosed when WHNE is required to do so by federal, state or local law.
• Public Health Activities.  WHNE may disclose your medical information to a public health authority that is authorized by law to collect or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.  An example of this is required reporting of vital events such as birth or death and the conduct of public health surveillance, investigations and intervention.  
• Health Oversight Activities.  WHNE may disclose your medical information to governmental, licensing, auditing, and accrediting organizations as required by law.
• Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence.  WHNE may report your medical information to a government authority including a social service or protective services agency if WHNE reasonably believes you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
• Other Uses and Disclosures. Any other sharing of your medical information will be made only with your written permission and you may take back your permission at any time so long as you tell us in writing except if WholeHealth New England (WHNE) has acted in reliance upon your permission, or if your permission was obtained so that the services provided would be covered by insurance.
• In Addition. WHNE may contact you to remind you about your appointment.  WHNE may leave you a voice mail or a message with a person stating the appointment time and date at home or at work unless you request otherwise.  WHNE will not identify the reason for your appointment or give any other information in the message.

Your Rights

• You may ask us to limit certain uses and disclosures of your medical information, but WHNE is not required to agree with the request. 
• You have the right to receive confidential communications of your information at alternative locations or by alternative means and WHNE must accommodate reasonable requests.
• You have the right to see and get a copy of your medical records within the regulatory limitations. 
• You have the right to amend your medical information.
• You have the right to ask us for an accounting of disclosures of your information within the regulatory limitations.
• You have the right to ask for a paper copy of this notice from WHNE.

WHNE’s Duties

• WHNE is required by law to keep your medical information private and to give patients this Notice of its legal duties and privacy practices for medical information. WHNE is required to abide by the terms of this Notice while it is in effect. 
• WHNE reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice, and to make the new terms apply to all medical information that WHNE maintains.  When WHNE revises this notice it will provide each patient with a copy of the Notice upon their next visit and post the notice and notification of its revision in the office.
• Any patient believing that his or her privacy rights have been violated may file a written complaint with our office, or with the Secretary for the United States Department of Health and Human Services at e-mail address ocrprivacy@os.dhhs.gov or call 202-619-0257. Patients will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint. 
• For further information about WHNE’s privacy policy and this notice please contact the Practice Manager:
       Telephone:   (781) 641-1901     Fax: (781) 641-3963
       Address:  180 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 303, Arlington, MA 02474