Your Privacy Matters
Privacy and Health Information
Who must follow this law?
- most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare providers and their vendors
- health insurance companies, HMOs and most employer group health plans
- certain government programs that pay for healthcare, such as Medicare and Medicaid
What information is protected?
- information your doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers put in your medical records
- conversations your doctor has with nurses and others regarding your care
- information about you in your health insurer’s computer system
- billing information about you at your clinic
- most other health information about you held by those who must follow this law
What rights do you have over your health information?
Providers and health insurers must comply with your right to:
- ask to see and get a copy of your health records
- request corrections to your health information
- receive a notice that tells you how your health information may be used and shared
- decide if you want to give your permission before your health information can be
used or shared for certain purposes, such as for marketing - get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes
- request that those who follow this law restrict how they use or share your health information
- file a complaint
What are the rules and limits on who can see and receive your health information?
To make sure that your health information is protected in a way that doesn’t interfere with your healthcare, your information can be used and shared:
- for your treatment and care coordination
- to pay doctors and hospitals for your healthcare and help run their businesses
- with your family, relatives, friends or others you identify who are involved with your healthcare or your healthcare bills, unless you object
- to make sure doctors give good care and nursing homes are clean and safe
- to protect the public’s health, such as by reporting when the flu is in your area
- to make required reports to the police, such as reporting gunshot wounds
- give your health information to your employer
- use or share your health information for marketing or advertising purposes
- share private notes about your mental health counseling sessions
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights
Right to Complain
If you believe your health information was used or shared in a way that is not allowed under the privacy law, or if you weren’t able to exercise your rights, you can file a privacy complaint with our privacy coordinator at 731.541.8486. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. government. Go online to ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf for more information.
Laws for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Another law provides additional privacy protections to patients of alcohol and drug treatment programs. For more information, visit www.samhsa.gov.
Medical Records
To order a copy of your medical records, you may call ext. 17982 for instructions. There is no fee to receive a copy of your records.