Effective: August 25, 2022
CENTER FOR BETTER HEARING’S
NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICY
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY
BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO
THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
As our patient, you have entrusted your medical information to our care. We know that your relationship with us is based on trust, and that you expect us to act in your best interests. As your personal medical history is your private information, we hold ourselves to the highest standards in its safekeeping.
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) is a Federal program that requests that all medical records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally are kept properly confidential. HIPAA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected healthcare information and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and our privacy practices. HIPAA gives you, the patient, the right to understand and control how your protected health information (“PHI”) is used.
Under HIPAA regulations, we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) without written consent for treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO)
- Treatment means providing, coordinating, or managing health care and related services by one or more healthcare providers. An example of this is communicating with your referring physician, pharmacy, or laboratory
- Payment means activities related to obtaining reimbursement for services, confirming coverage, billing or collections activities, and utilization review. An example of this would include verifying insurance coverage or sending you a billing statement
- Health Care Operations include business aspects of running our practice, such as conducting quality assessments and improving activities, auditing functions, cost management analysis, and customer service. Examples of this would be patient survey cards or contacting you, by phone or in writing, to remind you of an appointment
- We may also be required or permitted to disclose your PHI for law enforcement, matters of public health and safety and other legitimate reasons. In all situations, we shall do our best to assure its continued confidentiality to the extent possible.
We will not use your information for marketing or fundraising. We will not sell your information.
In compliance with federal and state privacy laws, written authorization by the patient or legal guardian is required before we can release records for reasons other than treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. If you give authorize to release your records, you may revoke such authorization in writing, and we will honor your request from the date we receive your written request forward.
Protecting Your Privacy Online
Our concern for your privacy naturally extends to our online communication. We transfer your data over the internet to submit health insurance claims and send electronic prescriptions to your pharmacy via a secure server. We do NOT use Electronic Medical Records, so your chart is not accessible over the internet.
We will file an insurance claim to your private insurance, Medicare, or supplemental insurance if you authorize us to do so. If you ask us not to give details about services to an insurance company that they will not be pay for, such as cosmetic services, we will honor your request.
You may have the following rights with respect to your PHI:
- The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of PHI, including those related to disclosures of family members, other relatives, close personal friends, or any other person identified by you. We are, however, not required to honor a request restriction except in limited circumstances which we shall explain if you ask. If we do agree to the restriction, we must abide by it unless you notify us in writing.
- You can advise us of the best location to contact you to protect your private information.
- You can request a copy of medical record in writing.
- You can request an amendment of your PHI. This request must be done in writing and will be honored at our discretion.
- We keep a log of disclosures of your medical information for the past six years and you can request a copy
- We will notify you if a breach of your protected health information occurs.
Please let us know if you feel that your protections have been violated by our office. You have the right to file a formal, written complaint with our practice and with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Contact information: Feel free to contact our office if you have any concerns regarding the privacy of your personal information. Please contact our Practice Compliance Officer, Chelsea Treseder at (707) 538-1000. A copy of our privacy policy is available at our office.
This notice is effective as of August 25, 2022 and it is our intention to abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices and HIPAA Regulations currently in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice of Privacy Practice and to make the new notice provision effective for all PHI that we maintain. A copy of the revised Notice of Privacy Practices is posted on our website and a copy of the written policy is available at our office and can be mailed upon request.
TERMS OF USE FOR THIS WEBSITE
Effective: August 25, 2022
Welcome
Welcome to Center for Better Hearing’s website. We are pleased you are here. Please review carefully our “Terms of Use for this Website.” These terms apply throughout our entire website. Additional terms may apply via state and federal laws. We hope you find our website useful.
- Note the Practice of Medicine
No website can replace the physician/patient relationship. Our website is designed to provide information about our practice and to offer useful information about health care issues. This website does not:
- create a care provider – patient relationship
- provide specific medical advice
- constitute the practice of medicine
- provide a substitute for medical care
Users of this website should always seek the advice of a licensed physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding personal health or medical conditions. If you believe you have a medical problem or condition, please seek medical attention from a qualified provider.
*** If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
- No Endorsements
Links from this website to third party websites do not imply this practice’s endorsement of any other websites’ product or service. Links from this website to third party websites are provided for your convenience and are intended only to enable access to these third party websites and for no other purpose. Please use your independent care and judgment when accessing these third party websites.
III. Designed and Operated for Adult Users
This website is designed and operated for users 18 years old and older. This website is not intended to be accessed by children. Those under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian assist with use of this website.
By using this website you agree that you will not:
- Disrupt, disable, “hack” or in any way interfere with the proper functioning of this website
- Use this website in a way that violates any law, act, or treaty
- Copy or “scrape” any content or images from this website without this practice’s prior written approval
- Secured Use of this Website
If you access our “Patient Portal” or any other secured access area of this website, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password. You also are responsible for all activities and actions that are transacted under your account or password.
- Copyright Notice
You may not copy, reproduce, republish, repurpose, post, “scrape,” or use in any way of the content or images contained in this website without this practice’s prior written approval.
- Digital Millenium Copyright Act
This practice complies with the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you have a concern regarding the use of copyrighted material on this website, please contact us at 707-538-1000.
VII. Disclaimers
You understand and agree that this practice’s website and any services content, or information contained on or provided by this practice is provided on an “as is” basis. This practice does not make any express or implied warranties. In addition, this practice does not guarantee that use of its website will be free from technological difficulties including, but not limited to, unavailability of information, downtime, service disruptions, viruses, or worms, and you understand that you are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for accuracy of data input and output.
VIII. Limitations of Liability
You assume any and all risks when using this website. This practice shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, monetary, punitive, special, or exemplary damages, fines, fees, or penalties which are in any way related to the use of this website.
Your only, sole, and exclusive remedy for any claim or alleged claim arising from the use of this website is to STOP USING THIS WEBSITE.
- Indemnification
You agree that you will indemnify and hold harmless this practice from any damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, costs and/or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) that in any way relate to your use or misuse of this website. This shall include any third party claims which may arise as a consequence of your use of this website.
- Changes to this “Terms of Use for this Website” Statement
This practice may alter, modify, revise, or amend any or all of this “Terms of Use for this Website” at any time. Such alterations, modifications, revisions, or amendments shall be effective immediately upon either posting it/them to this website or upon notifying you.
- Jurisdiction
You agree and consent that any claim or dispute that in any way relates to your use of this website is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of California. This consent and agreement also applies to any person attempting to advance a claim on your behalf.
XII. Contacting Us
If you or anyone on your behalf has a question or concern about the “Terms of Use for this Website,” please contact us at 707-538-1000. Thank you.