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 pledge to you
Stilwell Wellness Solutions (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “the practice”) is required by law to protect the privacy of your health information, give you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect. Your protected health information (PHI) includes information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the health care provided to you, or the payment for that care.
How we use and disclose your PHI without your authorization
Federal and state laws permit us to use and disclose your PHI without your written authorization for the following purposes:
For treatment
We use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, and manage your health care. For example, your clinician may share information with a specialist, a laboratory, or a pharmacy to coordinate your treatment plan.
For payment
We may use and disclose your PHI to bill for the services we provide and to collect payment from you, your insurance plan, or another third-party payer. For example, we may give your insurance plan information about a treatment to determine whether it will be covered.
For health care operations
We may use and disclose your PHI to operate the practice — for quality assessment, clinician review, compliance audits, training, and similar functions. We do not use PHI for marketing or sell it to anyone.
As required or permitted by law
We may disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law — for example, to report abuse or neglect, to public health authorities, to oversight agencies, in response to a court order or subpoena, for law enforcement purposes, or to coroners and medical examiners. We may also disclose PHI to avert a serious threat to health or safety.
To family members and others involved in your care
With your verbal agreement (or, if you are unable to agree, when we determine it is in your best interest), we may share information directly relevant to your care with a family member, friend, or other person you have identified as involved in your care.
Appointment reminders and follow-up
We may contact you to remind you of appointments, to follow up on your care, or to share information about health-related services or treatment alternatives that may be of interest to you.
Other uses and disclosures require your written authorization
All other uses and disclosures of your PHI not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization. In particular:
- Marketing: we will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing communications without your written authorization.
- Sale of PHI: we will not sell your PHI without your written authorization.
- Psychotherapy notes: if applicable, most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your written authorization.
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.
Your rights regarding your PHI
Right to inspect and copy
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI maintained by the practice. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies as permitted by law.
Right to request an amendment
If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend the record. We may deny the request in certain circumstances; if we do, we will provide you a written explanation.
Right to an accounting of disclosures
You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations.
Right to request restrictions
You have the right to request a restriction on how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to most restrictions, but if we do, we will honor the restriction except in an emergency. If you pay for a service or item out of pocket in full, you may request that we not disclose information about that service to your health plan.
Right to request confidential communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a specific way (for example, by mail rather than email) or at a specific location.
Right to a paper copy of this Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice on request, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to be notified of a breach
You have the right to be notified in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information at the bottom of this page.
Our duties
- We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI.
- We are required to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
- We are required to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
- We are required to notify you following a breach of your unsecured PHI.
How to file a complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, contact us using the information below. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
To file a complaint with the federal government, visit hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint.
Changes to this notice
We may change this Notice at any time and make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. The current Notice is always posted on this page and is available in paper form at our office. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page indicates when the Notice was most recently revised.
Contact us
To exercise your rights, ask questions, or file a complaint:
- Stilwell Wellness Solutions
- Privacy Officer: Karen Parmely, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
- Stilwell, KS
- Email: info@stilwellnesssolutions.com
- Phone: (913) 934-0052