Notice of Privacy Practices

Who this notice covers

This notice applies to MD Senior Care Medical Group when it performs functions governed by the HIPAA Privacy Rule and to the workforce members and business associates that support those functions as permitted by law.

Physicians, hospitals, facilities, health plans, and other organizations in a network may be separate legal entities. An independent physician or facility may maintain its own records and provide a separate notice. This notice does not make an independent provider an employee or agent of MD Senior Care.

For privacy questions or to exercise a right described here, contact the MD Senior Care Privacy Office using the information in the Contact section.

Your health information rights

You have the right to:

• Get an electronic or paper copy. You may inspect or obtain a copy of health information we maintain about you, subject to limited legal exceptions. We will respond within the time required by applicable law and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when allowed.
• Ask us to correct information. You may ask us to correct health information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny a request in some circumstances, but we will explain a denial in writing.
• Request confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a different location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit use or disclosure. We are generally not required to agree. If you paid in full out of pocket for a service or item, we will agree to a request not to disclose that information to a health plan for payment or operations unless disclosure is required by law.
• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures. The accounting does not include every disclosure, including many disclosures for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
• Get a paper copy of this notice. You may request one at any time, even if you agreed to receive the notice electronically.
• Use a personal representative. A legally authorized representative may exercise your rights. We may need documentation of that authority.
• Complain without retaliation. You may complain to us or to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you.

Your choices

You may tell us your preferences about sharing relevant information with family members, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for care, and about sharing information for disaster-relief purposes.

If you cannot tell us your preference, we may share limited information when we reasonably believe it is in your best interest or when needed to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat, as permitted by law.

We generally need your written authorization for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, uses and disclosures for marketing, a sale of protected health information, and uses or disclosures not otherwise described in this notice. You may revoke an authorization in writing, except to the extent we have already relied on it.

Treatment, payment, and operations

We may use or disclose protected health information without your written authorization for treatment, payment, and health care operations, as permitted by federal and California law.

• Treatment and care coordination. We may share relevant information with physicians, specialists, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, and others involved in your care. For example, we may share recent treatment information with a specialist evaluating you.
• Payment. We may use and disclose information to verify coverage, submit or process claims, coordinate benefits, and obtain payment. For example, information may be sent to a health plan so it can determine coverage or payment.
• Health care operations. We may use and disclose information for quality improvement, care management, utilization review, credentialing, compliance, auditing, fraud prevention, customer service, and other lawful operations. For example, we may review care information to improve coordination after a hospital discharge.

Other uses and disclosures permitted by law

Subject to applicable conditions and limits, we may also use or disclose information:

• for public health and safety activities, including disease reporting, product recalls, adverse-event reporting, and reporting suspected abuse or neglect;
• for health oversight activities authorized by law;
• for research approved or otherwise permitted by law;
• for organ and tissue donation;
• to coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as permitted by law;
• for workers' compensation and other legally authorized benefit programs;
• for certain law-enforcement and special government functions;
• in response to a valid court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process after applicable requirements are met;
• to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety when permitted by law; and
• when required by federal or California law, including disclosure to HHS for HIPAA compliance review.

Substance use disorder records

To the extent we maintain substance use disorder patient records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, those records and testimony describing them will not be used or disclosed in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceeding against you unless Part 2 permits it, including through your written consent or a qualifying court order accompanied by a subpoena or other legal mandate.

Additional Part 2 limits may apply to use, redisclosure, accounting, restrictions, and fundraising. A recipient of Part 2 records may be subject to separate federal restrictions.

Additional California protections

California law may protect some medical information more strictly than HIPAA. When California law is more protective and applies to the information or activity, we will follow it. Additional protections may apply to mental health, substance use, HIV/AIDS, genetic, reproductive health, and minor-consented services.

California law also provides rights concerning access to patient records and imposes additional limits on certain disclosures. Your rights can depend on which entity maintains the record and the type of record requested.

Our responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of protected health information.
• We must provide this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
• We must follow the notice currently in effect.
• We will notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured protected health information when required by law.
• We will not use or disclose protected health information except as described in this notice or as otherwise authorized or required by law.

Changes to this notice

We may change this notice and make the revised terms apply to health information we already maintain and information we receive in the future. A current notice will be available on this website and by request. The effective date appears at the top of the notice.

You may print this page using the Print button. Contact the Privacy Office to request a paper copy.

Questions, requests, and complaints

Contact the Privacy Office to exercise a privacy right, ask a question, or make a complaint. Call (844) 213-8836 or use the mailing address below.

Official privacy resources

• HHS: Your right to a Notice of Privacy Practices
• HHS: HIPAA resources for individuals
• California Attorney General: Patient access to medical records