At Absolute Companion Home Care, we are committed to delivering exceptional in-home health services tailored to your unique needs. Our team of skilled professionals is here to provide you with the highest quality care in the comfort of your own home. We understand the importance of maintaining privacy while receiving the support you require. With a focus on personalized care plans and compassionate assistance, we strive to enhance your quality of life. Rest assured, your well-being is our top priority. ACHC HIPAA Clause: Your privacy and confidentiality are strictly protected.

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HIPAA gives you rights about who can look at and receive your medical records and health information.

 

Who must follow this law?
Most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, outpatient therapists (such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists), durable medical equipment providers, and many other health care providers, as well as health insurance companies, HMOs, and most employer group health plans, are included. Certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid, are also included.

What information is protected?

Information covered includes:

• Details your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers enter into your medical record

• Conversations your doctor has about your care or treatment with nurses and other providers

• Information about you stored in your health insurer’s computer system

• Billing information about you maintained by your clinic

• Most other health information about you held by entities that are required to follow this law

You have a right to:

• Ask to see and get a copy of your health records.
  In most cases, you should receive copies within 30 days. You may be charged for the cost of copying and mailing.

• Be denied copies of your records in certain situations.
  For example, if the information in your file could endanger you or someone else, access may be restricted.

• Request corrections to your health records.
  You can ask to have incorrect or incomplete information removed or changed. In most cases, your records should be updated within 60 days.

• Receive a notice explaining how your health information may be used and shared.

• Decide whether to give permission before your health information is used or shared for certain purposes, such as marketing.

• Get a report detailing when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes.
  You can request this report for free once per year. In most cases, you should receive it within 60 days, though it may take up to an additional 30 days if you are notified of the delay.

• Request to be contacted in a different way or at a different place.
  For example, you may ask to be contacted at your office instead of your home, or by mail rather than by phone.

• Request that your information not be shared with certain people, groups, or companies.
  However, your provider or health insurer is not required to agree to your request.

• File a complaint if you believe your information was used or shared improperly, or if you were not allowed to exercise your rights.
  Complaints can be submitted to your health care provider, your health insurer, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

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When Written Permission Is Required

Your health information cannot be used or shared without your written permission, unless the law allows it. For example, without your authorization, your provider generally cannot:

• Share your information with your employer

• Use or share your information for marketing or advertising

• Share private notes from your mental health counseling sessions

 

When Your Information Can Be Used or Shared Without Permission

To protect your health and ensure high-quality care, your information can be used or shared without your written permission:

• For your treatment and care coordination

• To pay doctors and hospitals and help run their businesses

• With family members, relatives, friends, or others you identify as involved in your health care or payment—unless you object

• To ensure doctors provide quality care and nursing homes are clean and safe

• To protect public health (e.g., reporting flu outbreaks in your area)

• To make legally required reports to the police (e.g., reporting gunshot wounds)

 

For more information about HIPAA please contact the following agencies:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: (877) 267-2323
US Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Civil Rights: (800) 368-1019​​