Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Information
NOTICE OF INFORMATION PRACTICES
As required by Title II of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE OF INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY RIGHTS CAREFULLY.
We have summarized our responsibilities and your rights in this first section noting our responsibilities and your rights. For a complete description of our privacy practices, please review this entire notice, which became effective on September 23, 2013.
Notice of Hybrid Entity Status
We have designated ourselves as a Hybrid Entity because our business includes both covered and non-covered functions under HIPAA. The following components of our operations are designated as covered components are the Sonida Senior Living, Corporation Employee Benefit Plan and our Communities receiving Medicaid Waiver Resident Care Program Reimbursement.
Our Responsibilities
We are required to:
- Maintain the privacy of your health information;
- Provide you with this notice of our legal duties and information practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you;
- Abide by the terms of this notice currently in effect; and
- Notify you following a breach of unsecured protected health information.
Your Rights
You have several rights with regard to your health information. Those include the right to:
- Request that we not use or disclose your health information in certain ways;
- Request to receive communications in an alternative manner or location;
- Request access and obtain a copy of your health information;
- Request an amendment to your health information; and
- Request an account of disclosures of your health information.
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and to make the new provisions effective for all health information we maintain. Should our privacy practices change, we will post the changes in a physical place within our Communities (if applicable) and on our web site. A copy of the revised notice will be available after the effective date of the changes upon request. You may request a copy from the Privacy Officer in the Community listed at the end of this notice or obtain a copy on our website.
We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice. If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact the Privacy Officers at the Community of your interest listed at the end of this notice.
Understanding Your Health Record
Each time you visit a medical provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves the following purposes:
- Basis for planning your care and treatment
- Communication among health professionals involved in your care
- Legal document describing the care you received
- Proof that services billed were actually provided
- A tool to educate health professionals
- A source of data for medical research
- A source of information for public health officials who oversee the delivery of health care
- A tool to measure and improve the care we give
Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to:
- Ensure its accuracy
- Understand who, what, when, where, and why others may access your health information
- Make informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others
How We Will Use or Disclose Your Health Information
Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made Without Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object
For Treatment. We will use and disclose your health information to provide you with services. We may disclose your health information to those persons who may be involved in your care, such as physicians, nurses, nurse aides, physical therapists, dietary and admissions personnel. For example, a nurse caring for you will report a change in your condition to your physician.
For Payment. We may use and disclose your health information so that we can bill and receive payment for the services you receive. For example, we may disclose your health information to your responsible party, insurance or managed care company, Medicaid or another third party payer. We may contact Medicaid or your health plan to confirm your coverage or to request prior approval for a proposed treatment or service.
For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose your health information for our regular health operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to manage our operations and to monitor our quality of care. For example, we may use your health information to evaluate our services, including the performance of our staff.
Business Associates. Outside people and entities provide some services for us. Examples of these “business associates” include our accountants, consultants and attorneys. We may disclose your health information to our business associates so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do. We require our business associates to safeguard your information so that it is protected. Business Associates are also required by law to safeguard your information.
Newsletters / Bulletin Boards. Some of our Communities have bulletin boards and newsletters that are distributed to staff and residents. If applicable, we may post your name and birth date on a bulletin board and in a newsletter, unless you notify us otherwise.
Research. We may disclose information to researchers when certain conditions have been met.
Transfer of Information at Death. We may disclose health information to funeral directors, medical examiners, and coroners to carry out these duties consistent with applicable law.
Organ Procurement Organizations. Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.
Food and Drug Administration. We may disclose to the FDA, or to a person or entity subject to the jurisdiction of the FDA, health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, product and product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.
Workers’ compensation. We may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation or other similar programs established by law.
Public health. As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.
Correctional institution. Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.
Law enforcement. We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.
Reports. Federal law allows a member of our work force or a business associate to release your health information to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, if the work force member or business associate believes in good faith that we have engaged in unlawful conduct or have otherwise violated professional or clinical standards and are potentially endangering one or more patients, workers or the public.
Required by Law. We may use or disclose your health information to the extent that use or disclosure is otherwise required by federal, state, or local law.
Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made Either With Your Agreement or the Opportunity to Object
Directory/List of Residents. Unless you notify us that you object, we may use your name, location in the facility (if applicable), general condition, and religious affiliation for directory purposes. We may release information in our directory, except for your religious affiliation, to people who ask for you by name. We may provide the directory information, including your religious affiliation, to any member of the clergy.
Notification. Unless you notify us that you object, we may use or disclose information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, responsible party, or another person responsible for your care, of your location and general condition. If we are unable to reach your family member or responsible party, then we may leave a message for them at the phone number that they have provided us, e.g. on an answering machine.
Communication with Family. Unless you notify use that you object, we may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any other person involved in your health care, health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care. If appropriate, these communications may also be made after your death, unless you instructed us not to make such communications.
Uses and Disclosures of Your Health Information Based on Your Written Authorization
Psychotherapy Notes. We must obtain your written authorization for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
Marketing. We must obtain your written authorization to disclose your health information for most marketing purposes. We may contact you regarding your treatment, to coordinate your care, or to direct or recommend alternative treatments, therapies, health care providers or settings. In addition, we may contact you to describe a health-related product or services that may be of interest to you, and the payment for such product or service.
Sale of Health Information. We must obtain your written authorization for any disclosure of your health information which constitutes a sale of health information.
Other Uses. Other uses and disclosures of your health information, not described above, will be made only with your written authorization (unless otherwise permitted or required by law). You may revoke your authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent we have taken action in reliance on the authorization.
Your Health Information Rights
You have the following rights regarding your health information. You may exercise these rights by submitting a request in writing to our Privacy Officer:
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information for treatment, payment or health care operations. You also have the right to restrict the health information we disclose about you to a family member, friend or other person who is involved in your care or the payment for your care. Such requests should be made in writing on a form provided by us.
Although we will consider your requests with regard to the use of your health information, please be aware that we are under no obligation to accept it, except we must agree not to disclose your health information to your health plan if the disclosure:
(1) is for payment or health care operations and is not otherwise required by law; and
(2) relates to a health care item or service which you paid for in full out of pocket. If we do agree to accept your requested restriction, we will comply with your request except as needed to provide you emergency treatment.
Right of Access to Health Information. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical or billing records or other written information that may be used to make decisions about your care, subject to some limited exceptions. Such records will be provided to you in the time frames established by law. We may charge a reasonable fee for our costs in copying and mailing your requested information. We may deny your request to inspect or receive copies in certain limited circumstances. If you are denied access to health information, in some cases you will have a right to request review of the denial.
Right to Request Amendment. If you believe that any health information in your record is incorrect or if you believe that important information is missing, you may request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. Such requests must be made in writing, and must provide a reason to support the amendment. We may deny your request for amendment in certain circumstances. If we deny your request for amendment, we will give you a written denial including the reasons for the denial. You have the right to submit a written statement disagreeing with the denial.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an “accounting” of our disclosures of your health information. This is a listing of certain disclosures of your health information made by us or by others on our behalf, but does not include disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations or certain other exceptions.
Within 60 days after receiving your request for an Accounting of Disclosures of your Personal Health Information, we will provide you with such an accounting. If we are unable to provide an accounting of disclosures within the 60 day period, we may take an additional 30 days on which to provide the accounting by providing you, within 60 days after receiving your request for an accounting, a written statement of the reasons for our delay and the date by which we will provide to you an Accounting of Disclosures of your Personal Health Information. The first accounting provided within a 12-month period will be free; for further requests, we may charge you our costs.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically. You may request of copy of this notice at any time.
Right to Access Electronic Health Records for Texas Communities. Under Texas law, covered entities must provide residents with their Electronic Health Records in electronic format within 15 business days after receipt of a written request from You.
Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you concerning personal health matters in a certain manner or at a certain location. For example, you can request that we contact you only at a certain phone number. We will accommodate your reasonable requests.
Right to Revoke Authorization. You may revoke an authorization to use or disclose health information, except to the extent that action has already been taken. This request must be made in writing.
Right to Breach Notification. You have the right to be notified if you are affected by a breach of Unsecured Protected Health Information.
Right to Opt Out of Fundraising Communications. We may contact you for fundraising purposes. You have the right to opt out of receiving these communications.
Right to Keep Private When Paying in Cash. If you pay in cash in full (out of pocket) for your services, you can instruct us not to share information about your services with your health plan or other payor. This does not apply to information requested by any governmental agency.
For More Information or to Report a Problem
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint in writing with us or with the Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, you may contact the Privacy Officer located at the Community list following this Notice. We will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint.
If you have any questions about this Notice or would like further information concerning your privacy rights, please contact the Privacy Officer on the List following this notice.
Effective Date: September 23, 2013
This notice applies to Sonida Senior Living’s Medicaid Waiver Resident Care Program Reimbursement facilities (see list following this notice). The Privacy Officer contact information for each applicable facility is included in the list following this notice.
Autumn Glen
Privacy Officer: 765-653-6999
Chateau of Batesville
Privacy Officer: 819-932-8888
Country Charm
Privacy Officer: 317-882-5455
Greenbriar Village
Privacy Officer: 317-899-2659
Keystone Woods
Privacy Officer: 765-642-8020
LaurelHurst & Laurel Woods
Privacy Officer: 828-894-3900
Marquis Place of Elkhorn
Privacy Officer: 402-289-9229
Riverbend
Privacy Officer: 812-280-0965
Rose Arbor & Wildflower Lodge
Privacy Officer: 763-493-5910
The Harrison
Privacy Officer: 317-291-1112
The Residence of Chardon
Privacy Officer: 440-286-2277
The Waterford at Colby
Privacy Officer: 715-223-2200
The Waterford at Corpus Christi
Privacy Officer: 361-991-9600
The Waterford at Hartford
Privacy Officer: 262-670-9477
The Waterford at Park Falls
Privacy Officer: 715-744-2444
The Waterford at Plymouth
Privacy Officer: 920-892-4635
The Waterford at Roxbury Hills
Privacy Officer: 402-537-0544
The Waterford at Virginia Beach
Privacy Officer: 757-490-6672
The Waterford at West Bend
Privacy Officer: 262-335-1992
The Waterford at Wisconsin Rapids
Privacy Officer: 715-421-0045
The Waterford at Woodbridge
Privacy Officer: 402-296-5133
The Wellington at Southport
Privacy Officer: 317-889-9822
The Wellington at Springfield
Privacy Officer: 413-426-9868
The Windcrest on Van Dorn
Privacy Officer: 402-486-0011
The Woodlands of Columbus
Privacy Officer: 614-755-7591
The Woodlands of Hamilton
Privacy Officer: 513-893-9000
The Woodlands of Shaker Heights
Privacy Officer: 216-751-0930
