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How We May Use and Disclose Medical Information About You The following categories describe different ways that AMA Laboratory uses and discloses medical information. For each category of uses or disclosures, we will explain what we mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories. For Treatment AMA Laboratory may use medical information about you to provide laboratory results. We may disclose medical information about you to physicians, physician assistants, medical assistants, or other personnel who are involved in taking care of you at your physician’s office or facility. For example, a doctor treating you for hypertension may need to know if your blood sugar is elevated because diabetes is usually associated with hypertension. For Payment We may use and disclose medical information abut you so that the laboratory results you receive from AMA Laboratory may be billed to and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. For example, we may need to give identifying information about you so that your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the laboratory diagnostic results. We may also tell your health plan about a laboratory test requested by your physician to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the cost of the laboratory tests. For Healthcare Operations We may use and disclose medical information about you to process and perform laboratory tests on your specimens. For example, we may need a medical diagnosis to correlate the results of a laboratory test and determine whether the result is acceptable or not. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care We may release medical information about you to a friend, relative, family member who is involved in your medical care. We may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care. As Required by Law We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law. To Avert A Serious Threat to Health or Safety We may use and disclose medical information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat. Special Circumstances Organ and Tissue Donation If you are an organ donor, we may release medical information to organizations that handle organ transplantation or to an organ donation bank, as necessary, to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation. Military and Veterans If you are member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities. We may also release medical information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority. Workers’ Compensation We may release medical information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness. Public Health Risks We may disclose medical information about you for public health activities. These activities generally include the following:
Health Oversight Activities We may disclose medical information to health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the healthcare system, government programs, and compliance with civil right laws. Lawsuits and Disputes If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose medical information about you in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose medical information about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested. Law Enforcement We may release medical information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:
Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors We may release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also release medical information about patients to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties. National Security and Intelligence Activities We may release medical information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security activities authorized by law. Protective Services for the President and Others We may disclose medical information about you to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state or conduct special investigations. Inmates If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release medical information about you to the correctional institution or law enforcement official. This release would be necessary (1) for the institution to provide you with healthcare; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) for the safety and security of the correctional institution. Your Rights Regarding Medical Information About You You have the following rights regarding medical information that AMA Laboratory maintains about you: Right to Inspect and Copy You have the right to inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decision about your care. Usually, this includes medical and billing records, but may not include some mental health records. To inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decision about you, you must submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain very limited circumstances If you are denied access to medical information, you may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed healthcare professional chosen by AMA Laboratory will review your request and the denial. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with outcome of the review. Right to Amend If you feel that the medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing to the Medical Director. In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request. We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that
Even if we deny your request for an amendment, you have the right to submit a written addendum, not to exceed two hundred and fifty (250) words, regarding any item you think is incorrect or incomplete and, if you so request, we will disclose your addendum together with the information you wanted amended when it is disclosed in the future. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosure”. This a list of disclosures we made of medical information about you other than our own uses for treatment, payment and healthcare operations and certain other expectations set by law. To request this list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to the Medical Director. Your request must state a time period which may not be longer than six years and may not include dates before 14 April 2003. Your request should indicate in what form you want the list (e.g... on paper, electronically, etc.) The first list you request within a twelve (12) month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred. Right to Request Restrictions You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the medical information we disclose in your care or the payment of your care, like a family member or friend. For example, you could ask that we not use or disclose information about a surgery you had. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment. To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to the Medical Director. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and, (3) to whom you want the limitation to apply (e.g., disclosures to your spouse). Right to Request Confidential Communication You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail. To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing to the Medical Director. We will not ask you the reason for your request. We will accommodate all reasonable requests. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice. Changes to this Notice We reserve the right to change this notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed notice effective for medical information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current notice in the AMA Laboratory Lobby and Patient Service Centers. The notice will contain on the first page, in the top right hand corner, the effective date. In addition, each time you visit AMA Laboratory for phlebotomy services, we will offer you a copy of the current notice in effect. Compliance If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with AMA Laboratory or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with the laboratory, contact: Privacy Officer
All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint. Other Uses of Medical Information Other uses and disclosures of medical information not covered by this notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written permission. If you provide us permission to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke that permission, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your permission, we will no longer use or disclose medical information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization. You understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures we have already made with your permission, and that we are required to retain our records of the services we provided you.
AMA Laboratory is HIPAA compliant, discussed above are the guidelines complying with HIPPA regulations to protect patient health information. |
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We understand that medical information about you and your health are personal. We are committed to protecting medical information about you. We create a record of the services you receive from AMA Laboratory as requested by your physician or, in some legally allowable instances, by yourself. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the information generated to provide you or your physician with the laboratory diagnostic results and services by AMA Laboratory. Please note your personal physician may have different policies or notices regarding the physician’s use and disclosure of your medical information created in his/her office or clinic.