HOW WE MAY USE OR DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
Following Uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Authorization
For Treatment – We will use and/or disclose your health information to provide you with medical treatment and related services, including coordination or management of your care with a third party that is also involved in your treatment. For example, we may disclose your health information to another health care provider, such as a specialist to whom you are referred by your physician, or to a laboratory performing tests related to your medical care.
For Payment – We will use and/or disclose your health information to others, as necessary, to obtain payment for the treatment or services you receive. For example, a bill, containing information that both identifies you and your diagnosis or treatment, may be sent to you or directly to your insurance company, health plan or other third-party payer. We may also use your health information for the purpose of determining your eligibility or coverage under a certain health plan.
For Health Care Operations – We may also use and/or disclose your health information as necessary to run our business operations and to support the core functions of treatment and payment. These activities include: quality assessment and improvement activities; employee evaluation activities; conducting medical review; legal and auditing services; business planning and development activities; and business management and general administrative activities. We will share your health information, as necessary, with certain “business associates” that provide certain services on our behalf, such as billing or transcription services. Whenever we have an arrangement with a “business associate” involving your health information, we will have that party execute a written contract containing terms that will protect the privacy of your health information.
As Required by Law – We may use and/or disclose your health information as and to the extent required to comply with applicable law. PREMIER MED GROUP may, for example, disclose information in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding in response to a court order, subpoena or other lawful process, or may be required in certain instances to report certain information to law enforcement officials or other governmental authorities.
Public Health Activities – We may use and/or disclose your health information for public health activity purposes to a public health agency that is permitted to collect such information for the purpose of controlling disease, injury, disability or other health oversight activities.
Disclosure to Coroners, Funeral Directors and for Organ Donations – We may disclose your health information to a coroner or medical examiner for identification purposes, to ascertain the cause of death or to carry out other purposes authorized by law. PREMIER MED GROUP may also disclose health information to a funeral director, as authorized by law, to permit the funeral director to perform his/her duties. Further, protected information may be used for organ, eye or tissue donation and transplant purposes.
Research – We may disclose your health information to researchers when the institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal has established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.
Workers Compensation – We may use and/or disclose your health information in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations related to Workers Compensation.
Appointment Reminders and Miscellaneous Other Uses – PREMIER MED GROUP may also use your health information to provide appointment reminders, or to send you materials with respect to treatment alternatives or other health-related information that may be of interest to you.