This Privacy Notice (the “Notice”) describes the privacy practices of Alivia Health in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provisions. Alivia Health shall use and/or disclose your protected health information to provide your treatment, to collect payment for the service provided, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care received.

 

Your protected health information (PHI) is the information we obtain to provide your services, and which may be used to identify you. This includes your name and contact information, as well as information about your health and conditions, and your medical orders. The information may be related to current or future physical and mental health conditions, the provision of health care products or services to you, or the payment of said products or services.

 

We are required by law to protect the privacy of your PHI and to issue this notice explaining our legal responsibilities and privacy practices regarding your PHI. Your PHI is part of your medical record, which is in turn under Alivia Health physical control. Nonetheless, the information in this record is your property and belongs exclusively to you. This Notice describes how we may use and disclose your PHI. We provide examples, although all permissible uses and disclosures are listed in this Notice. Alivia Health and its employees and business associates (contractors) are required to follow the provisions included in this Notice and in any amendment made to it.

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USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PHI

 

Alivia Health may use and disclose your PHI without written authorization from you, for treatment, collections, or business operations related to your health care.

 

The following categories describe and provide some examples of different ways in which your PHI may be used or disclosed for these purposes:

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Treatment

 

Alivia Health may use and/or disclose your PHI to coordinate the treatment, medication, or services you receive. For example, we may:

 

• Disclose your PHI to third parties, such as pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, or other health care providers, to assist them in the provision or coordination of health care services. In some cases, the use and disclosure may be done via electronic health record or other types of electronic systems, or via tools and platforms that provide PHI security.

• Contact your health care provider regarding services provided or to be provided by Alivia Health, such as refills, adherence notices, or treatment alternatives (e.g. availability of generic products).

• The health information may be used and disclosed to recommend possible treatment options and alternatives that could be of interest to the patient.

 

Payments

 

Alivia Health may use and/or disclose your PHI to collect payments for the services provided and to perform any other payment activities related to the services we provide. For example, Alivia Health may:

 

• Share your PHI with your health care plan, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), or any other health care payor, to determine whether they will pay for the health care services and products you need and calculate the amount you may owe. 

• Contact you about your payment or balance due for the medications dispatched by Alivia Health. Alivia Health may also disclose your PHI to other health care providers, health plans, or any other entities covered under HIPAA that could require payment for their activities.

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Business Operations Related to Health Care

 

Alivia Health may use and/or disclose your PHI for business operations. These activities are necessary to run our organization. For example, we may:

 

• Use and disclose your PHI to monitor the quality of our health care services, to provide customer service, to resolve grievances, and to coordinate your care. 

• Disclose your PHI to other entities covered under HIPAA that provided you with services so that they may improve the quality and efficacy of the health care services they provide or to run their health care operations.

• Use your PHI to generate a de-identified date, which no longer identifies you and may be used and disclosed for analysis, business planning, or other purposes.

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Business Associates

 

There are some services in Alivia Health that are provided by individuals, or organization through service agreements.  Examples are lawyers, accountants, and consultants, among others. When Alivia Health contracts a business associate to provide services, it may be necessary to disclose health information to perform the contracted tasks. Alivia Health requires that their business associates remain in strict compliance with the privacy and security requirements for information use and ensure its confidentiality, according to HIPAA provisions.

 

Individuals Involved in the Patient’s Medical Care and the Reimbursement for the Services Provided

 

Alivia Health may disclose your PHI to any friend, personal representative, relative, or any other person you identify as caretaker, involved in your health care or in the payment of such services.

 

Workers Compensation

 

Alivia Health may disclose your PHI as necessary to comply with any current legal provisions related to workers’ occupational insurance or similar programs. These programs offer benefits for work-related injuries or diseases.

 

Required By Law

 

Alivia Health may disclose your PHI as required to comply with state and federal law. 

 

Law Compliance

 

PHI may be disclosed if required by a Law Enforcement Officer, under the following circumstances:

 

• In response to a court order, summons, authorization, citation, or similar processes. 

• To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, prosecution witness, or missing person.

• Regarding a crime victim if, under certain limited circumstances, we cannot obtain the institution’s consent.

• Regarding a death we understand was result of a crime.

• Regarding a crime occurred in the institution.

• In case of emergency, to report a crime, the location of the crime, any related victims or identities, and the description or location of the person who committed the crime.

 

Warning of Danger to Health or Safety

 

The PHI may be used and disclosed as required to prevent a threat or danger to the health and safety of the patient or anyone else. However, this information will be disclosed to those who are skilled or enabled to help prevent the danger.

 

Public Health and Safety Purposes

 

PHI may be disclosed for public health activities, such as:

 

• Prevention or management of diseases, injuries, or disabilities, birth, and death reports.

• Reports of child abuse and neglect.

• Reports of reactions to medications or issues with products.

• Notifications to let people know about the products they could use.

• Notifications to the relevant government agencies, if it is believed that a patient has been a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. This information will be provided if the patient agrees to it and/or as required by law.

 

Health Monitoring Activities

 

Alivia Health may disclose your PHI to other agencies that oversee certain activities, including audits, research, inspections, licensing, disciplinary or civil actions, administrative and criminal proceedings, and as deemed necessary to oversee the health care system, governmental programs, or compliance with civil rights laws.

 

Research

 

Alivia Health may use and/or disclose your PHI for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board reviews the research proposal, approves it, and establishes protocols to guarantee the privacy of your PHI, with your prior consent. Your PHI may also be used and/or disclosed for graduate program studies, with your prior consent.

 

Forensic Pathologists, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donor Cases

 

We may use or disclose your PHI to forensic pathologists to help identify deceased people, determine cause of death, or carry out other duties as authorized by law. We may also disclose information to funeral directors so they may carry out their duties regarding the deceased, and to organizations that manage the acquisition, storage, or transplant of organs, eyes, or tissue.

 

Military and Veterans

 

If you are a member of the armed forces, your health information may be released as required by military authorities. The PHI of foreign military personnel may be disclosed to the relevant foreign military authorities.

 

Notification

 

Alivia Health may use or disclose your PHI to notify or help notify your relative, personal representative, or any other person responsible for your care about your location, general condition, or death. We may also disclose your PHI to disaster recovery organizations to notify your family or others responsible for your care about your location, general condition, or death.

 

Correctional Facilities

 

If you are or become an inmate in a correctional facility, Alivia Health may disclose your PHI to said facility or its agents to help them provide health care and protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others.

 

National Security and Intelligence Activities

 

PHI may be disclosed to federal officers authorized to perform intelligence activities and others related to national security and permitted by law.

 

Marketing

 

We may disclose information to market a product under limited circumstances, such as:

 

• An oral statement

• A written communication, where the entity receives no direct or indirect compensation for marketing.

• For health-related products or services.

 

Patients may opt out from receiving marketing information.

 

Out of Pocket Payments

 

If someone pays for a service in full and out-of-pocket (in other words, the person has asked to make a direct full payment), said person is entitled to request that the service not be disclosed to the health plan.

 

PATIENTS RIGHTS RELATED TO HEALTH INFORMATION

 

Inspection and copy

 

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the health information used to make decisions about your health care. This usually includes clinical information and billing records.

 

Rights to Amend

 

If you understand that the organization’s health information is inaccurate and incomplete, you are entitled to request an information amendment. For example, if your birth date is incorrect, you can ask to have it corrected. You are entitled to request amendments as long as the information is being kept for or by the organization.

 

Record of Disclosures

 

Patients are entitled to request disclosure logs. These are lists of the disclosures Alivia Health has made of patient-related health information.

 

Restrictions to Information Requests and/or Disclosures

 

You have the right to request a restriction or limitation to the health information Alivia Health uses or discloses regarding treatment, payment, or health care operations.

 

Request for Confidential Communications

 

You have the right to request that Alivia Health contact you at a specific number or address. For instance, you could ask to be contacted at your workplace or by regular mail, email, or text message.

 

Right to a Copy of This Notice

 

You are entitled to a copy of this Notice, either in printed or electronic format. You may request a copy of this Notice at any time. Copy of the Notice may be requested from the Chief Compliance Officer and HIPAA Compliance Officer.

 

OTHER USES OF PHI

 

Alivia Health may be part of, and be involved in, other organizations to which we electronically provide and disclose PHI for that organization to aggregate it with the information received from other participating entities to improve, expand, and complement the services we offer.

 

COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES

 

If you believe that your right to privacy has been violated, you may contact Alivia Health to inform a complaint through the Chief Compliance Officer and HIPAA Compliance Officer or with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.  You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

 

You have the right to file a complaint with Alivia Health and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HSS) if you believe your rights to privacy have been violated. You will not be penalized and there will be no retaliation against you for filing a complaint.

 

Contact

 

If you have questions and/or complaints, please contact Alivia Health at the address or phone numbers provided in the About Us Section of this website.