magnolia creek
HIPAA Policy
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibility.
Your privacy is important to us. This notice, effective January 14, 2022, outlines how your medical information may be used and shared, and explains your rights to use and disclose that information. Please review it carefully and let us know if you have any questions.
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section outlines these rights and explains some of our responsibilities in helping to protect them.
Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
- You have the right to view or request a copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain. Please ask us how to submit this request.
- We’ll provide a copy or summary, typically within 30 days, and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Ask us to correct your medical record
- If you believe your medical information is incorrect or incomplete, you can request a correction.
- We may deny your request, but we’ll provide a written explanation within 60 days.
Request confidential communications
- Please feel free to request that we contact you in a specific manner (e.g., only at work or by mail) or at an alternative address.
- We will honor all reasonable requests.
Ask us to limit what we use or share
- You may request that we not use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. While we’re not required to agree, we’ll consider all requests.
- If you pay for a service out of pocket, you can request that we not share that information with your health insurer. We’ll honor your request unless the law requires us to share it.
Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information
- You can request a list (accounting) of disclosures we’ve made of your health information over the past six years, excluding those for treatment, payment, operations, and certain other disclosures.
- You’ll receive one free report per year; additional requests may incur a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Get a copy of this privacy notice
- You can request a paper copy of this notice at any time — even if you’ve agreed to receive it electronically. We will provide it as soon as possible upon your request.
Choose someone to act for you
- If you’ve appointed a medical power of attorney or have a legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
- We will verify their authority before taking any action.
File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
- If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint:
Contact:
Privacy Officer
Magnolia Creek
645 Crenshaw Road
Columbiana, AL 35051
- Or file a complaint with the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
Phone: 877.696.6775
Mail: 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201
- We will never retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Your Choices
For certain types of health information, you have the right to make choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations listed below, please let us know, and we’ll follow your instructions whenever possible.
In these cases, you have the right to tell us to:
Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
Share information during disaster relief efforts
Include your information in a hospital directory
If you are unable to tell us your preferences — for example, if you are unconscious — we may share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share information if it’s necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to your health, safety, or the health or safety of others.
We never share without your written permission
We will never use or share your health information for the following purposes unless you give us written permission:
- Marketing purposes
Selling your information
Most sharing of psychotherapy notes
Substance use disorder treatment information
- Fundraising efforts
Special categories of information
Certain types of health information receive extra protection under federal and state law. We will not share these types of information without your written consent, unless otherwise permitted or required by law:
Psychotherapy notes
Genetic testing information
Information about individuals with developmental disabilities
HIV/AIDS testing or diagnosis information
Alcohol and drug use treatment records
Our Uses + Disclosures
We use or share your health information in a few key ways to provide care and support your treatment:
Treat you
We may use and share your health information with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
Example: A doctor treating you for an injury may consult another provider about your overall health condition.
Run our organization
We may use and share your information to operate Magnolia Creek effectively, improve the quality of care we provide, and communicate with you when needed.
Example: We use your health information to coordinate your treatment and manage our services.
Bill for your services
We may use and share your information to bill and receive payment from health plans or other payers.
Example: We give details about your care to your health insurance provider so they can cover the cost of your services.
How else can we use or share your health information?
In certain situations, we are allowed — or required — by law to use or share your health information for reasons that serve the public good, such as public health and research. Before we do so, we must meet specific legal requirements to protect your privacy. For more information, visit Your Rights Under HIPAA.
Public health + safety
We may share your information in situations such as:
- Preventing or controlling disease
Helping with product recalls
Reporting adverse reactions to medications
Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety
Research
We will not use or share your information for health research without your written permission.
Complying with the law
We may share your information if required by federal or state law, including with the US Department of Health and Human Services, to show our compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Organ + tissue donation
We may share your information with organ procurement organizations for donation or transplantation.
Medical examiners + funeral directors
We may disclose information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director as needed following an individual’s death.
Workers’ compensation, law enforcement, + government requests
We may share your information in situations such as:
For workers’ compensation claims
For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
With health oversight agencies for legally authorized activities
For special government functions such as military, national security, or presidential protection
Legal proceedings
We may share your health information to respond to:
A court or administrative order
A subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful legal process
Our Responsibilities
- We’re required by law to protect the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI).
- If a breach occurs that may compromise the privacy or security of your information, we will notify you as soon as possible.
- We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and provide you with a copy.
- We will not use or share your information beyond what is described here unless you give us written permission. If you do, you have the right to change your mind at any time — just let us know in writing.
For more information, click here.
Changes to this Notice
We reserve the right to update the terms of this notice at any time. Any changes will apply to all your existing health information as well as any information we receive in the future. The updated notice will be available upon request at our office and on our website.
