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.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Our agency is required by law to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI), to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and share your health information without your prior written authorization for the following primary purposes:

For Treatment

We may use and share your PHI with nurses, physicians, therapists, home health aides, and other healthcare personnel who are involved in providing your care or coordinating services (e.g., sharing care plans or progress notes with your ordering physician).

For Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment from Medicare, Medicaid, commercial health plans, or other third-party payers for the home health services you receive.

For Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your information to run our agency, evaluate staff performance, conduct quality improvement activities, and ensure our patients receive high-quality care.

Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law

We may share your PHI in certain special circumstances without your authorization, including:

Public Health and Safety

To report communicable diseases, suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, or to avert a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

Law Enforcement & Government Requests

To comply with court orders, subpoenas, health oversight audits, workers’ compensation claims, or legal requirements.

Family & Caregivers

With your verbal agreement or implied consent, we may share relevant information with family members or friends directly involved in your care or payment for care.

Uses Requiring Your Written Authorization

For any purpose not described above (such as marketing communications or the sale of your information), we will obtain your explicit written authorization. You may revoke that authorization at any time in writing.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Under federal privacy laws, you have the right to:

Inspect and Copy

You have the right to look at or receive a paper or electronic copy of your medical record and billing records. (We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copying/postage.)

Request Amendments

If you feel health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may submit a written request asking us to correct or amend the record.

Request Confidential Communications

You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (e.g., home phone vs. cell phone) or send mail to a designated alternative address.

Request Restrictions

You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or operations. While we are not always required to agree, we must agree if you ask us not to share information with your health plan for payment/operations purposes and you have paid for the service entirely out-of-pocket.

Accounting of Disclosures

You can request a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for reasons other than treatment, payment, or operations over the past six years.

Paper Copy of This Notice

You are entitled to receive a paper copy of this notice at any time upon request, even if you agreed to accept it electronically.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any revised notice will apply to all PHI we currently maintain. Updated notices will be posted on our website and made available at our physical office.

Complaints & Contact Information

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, or if you have questions about this notice, you may contact our Privacy Officer:

  • Agency Name: A-Z Home Care Options
  • Attn: HIPAA Privacy Officer
  • Address: 3906 W Ina Rd, Suite 200, Tucson, AZ 85741
  • Phone: 520-239-2150
  • Email: [email protected]

You may also file a formal written complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) by mail, phone, or online at www.hhs.gov/ocr. We will not retaliate against you in any way for filing a complaint.