Hyde Park Location

(513) 248-1210

Milford Location

(513) 248-1210

Notice of Privacy Practices for ESD Pediatric Group

Read below to know about our privacy practices. For more information, contact us.

This Notice applies to both of our Offices. If you have any questions about this notice or if you need more information, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Privacy Officer: Leasa D. Horst, Practice Administrator

Mailing Address: 905 Main Street Milford, OH 45150-5049

Email: [email protected]

About This Notice

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information and to give you this Notice explaining our privacy practices with regard to that information. You have certain rights – and we have certain legal obligations – regarding the privacy of your Protected Health Information, and this Notice also explains your rights and our obligations. We are required to abide by the terms of the current version of this Notice.

What is Protected Health Information?

“Protected Health Information” is information that individually identifies you and that we create or get from you or from another health care provider, health plan, your employer, or a health care clearinghouse and that relates to (1) your past, present, or future physical or mental health or conditions, (2) the provision of health care to you, or (3) the past, present, or future payment for your health care.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Protected Health Information

We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information in the following circumstances:

• For Treatment. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to give you medical treatment or services and to manage and coordinate your medical care. For example, your Protected Health Information may be provided to a physician or other health care provider (e.g., a specialist or laboratory) to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician or other health care provider has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you or provide you with a service.

For Payment – We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information so that we can bill for the treatment and services you receive from us and can collect payment from you, a health plan, or a third party. This use and disclosure may include certain activities that your health insurance plan may undertake before it approves or pays for the health care services we recommend for you, such as making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, reviewing services provided to you for medical necessity, and undertaking utilization review activities. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about your treatment in order for your health plan to agree to pay for that treatment.

For Health Care Operations – We may use and disclose Protected Health Information for our health care operations. For example, we may use your Protected Health Information to internally review the quality of the treatment and services you receive and to evaluate the performance of our team members in caring for you. We also may disclose information to physicians, nurses, medical technicians, medical students, and other authorized personnel for educational and learning purposes.

Appointment Reminders/Treatment Alternatives/Health-Related Benefits and Services – We may use and disclose Protected Health Information to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment for medical care, or to contact you to tell you about possible treatment options or alternatives or health related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

Minors – We may disclose the Protected Health Information of minor children to their parents or guardians unless such disclosure is otherwise prohibited by law.

Research – We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information for research purposes, but we will only do that if the research has been specially approved by an authorized institutional review board or a privacy board that has reviewed the research proposal and has set up protocols to ensure the privacy of your Protected Health Information. Even without that special approval, we may permit researchers to look at Protected Health Information to help them prepare for research, for example, to allow them to identify patients who may be included in their research project, as long as they do not remove, or take a copy of, any Protected Health Information. We may use and disclose a limited data set that does not contain specific readily identifiable information about you for research. However, we will only disclose the limited data set if we enter into a data use agreement with the recipient who must agree to (1) use the data set only for the purposes for which it was provided, (2) ensure the confidentiality and security of the data, and (3) not identify the information or use it to contact any individual.

As Required by Law – We will disclose Protected Health Information about you when required to do so by international, federal, state, or local law. The use or disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law. You will be notified, if the law requires us to do so, of any such uses or disclosures. We must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the law.

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety – We may use and disclose Protected Health Information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety or to the health or safety of others or if it is necessary for law enforcement authorities to identify or apprehend an individual. But we will only disclose the information to someone who may be able to help prevent the threat.

Business Associates – We may disclose Protected Health Information to our business associates who perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if the Protected Health Information is necessary for those functions or services. For example, we may use another company to do our billing, or to provide transcription or consulting services for us. All of our business associates are obligated, under contract with us, to protect the privacy and ensure the security of your Protected Health Information.

Organ and Tissue Donation – If you are an organ or tissue donor, we may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to organizations that handle organ procurement or transplantation – such as an organ donation bank – as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation.

Military and Veterans – If you are a member of the armed forces, we may disclose Protected Health Information as required by military command authorities. We also may disclose Protected Health Information to the appropriate foreign military authority if you are a member of a foreign military.

Workers’ Compensation – We may use or disclose Protected Health Information for workers’ compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Public Health Risks – We may disclose Protected Health Information for public health activities. This includes disclosures to: (1) a person subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for purposes related to the quality, safety or effectiveness of an FDA-regulated product or activity; (2) prevent or control disease, injury or disability; (3) report births and deaths; (4) report child abuse or neglect; (5) report reactions to medications or problems with products; (6) notify people of recalls of products they may be using; and (7) a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition.

Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence – We may disclose Protected Health Information to the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence and the patient agrees or we are required or authorized by law to make that disclosure.

Health Oversight Activities – We may disclose Protected Health Information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, licensure, and similar activities that are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.

Data Breach Notification Purposes – We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to provide legally required notices of unauthorized access to or disclosure of your health information.

Lawsuits and Disputes – If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose Protected Health Information in response to a court or administrative order. We also may disclose Protected Health Information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other legal process from someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to get an order protecting the information requested. We may also use or disclose your Protected Health Information to defend ourselves in the event of a lawsuit.

Law Enforcement – We may disclose Protected Health Information, so long as applicable legal requirements are met, for law enforcement purposes.

Military Activity and National Security – If you are involved with military, national security or intelligence activities or if you are in law enforcement custody, we may disclose your Protected Health Information to authorized officials so they may carry out their legal duties under the law.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors – We may disclose Protected Health Information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director so that they can carry out their duties.

Inmates – If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may disclose Protected Health Information to the correctional institution or law enforcement official if the disclosure is necessary (1) for the institution to provide you with health care; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) the safety and security of the correctional institution.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Us to Give You an Opportunity to Object and Opt Out

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care – Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a relative, a close friend or any other person you identify, your Protected Health Information that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your health care. If you are unable to agree or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest based on our professional judgment.

Disaster Relief – We may disclose your Protected Health Information to disaster relief organizations that seek your Protected Health Information to coordinate your care, or notify family and friends of your location or condition in a disaster. We will provide you with an opportunity to agree or object to such a disclosure whenever we practicably can do so.

Fundraising Activities – We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information, as necessary, in order to contact you for fundraising activities. You have the right to opt out of receiving fundraising communications. If you do not want to receive these materials, please submit a request to the Privacy Officer by calling 513-248-1210 and informing us of your wish not to receive such materials. We will not condition treatment or payment on your choice with respect to the receipt of fundraising communications.

Your Written Authorization is Required for Other Uses and Disclosures

The following uses and disclosures of your Protected Health Information will be made only with your written authorization:

1. Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, except: for use by the originator of the psychotherapy notes for treatment or health oversight activities; for use or disclosure by us for our own training programs in which students, trainees, or practitioners in mental health learn under supervision to practice or improve their skills in group, joint, family or individual counseling; for use or disclosure by us to defend ourselves in a legal action or other proceeding brought by you; to the extent required to investigate or determine our compliance with the HIPAA regulations; to the extent that such use or disclosure is required by law and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law; for health oversight activities with respect to the oversight of the originator of the psychotherapy notes; for disclosure to a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death, or other duties as authorized by law; or if disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public and is made to a person or persons reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, including the target of the threat.;

2. Uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information for marketing purposes; except if the communication is in the form of a face-to-face communication made to you personally; or a promotional gift of nominal value provided by us. It is not considered marketing to send you information related to your individual treatment, case management, and care coordination or to direct or recommend alternative treatment, therapies, health care providers or settings of care. These may be sent without written permission. If the marketing is to result in financial remuneration to us by a third party, we will state this on the authorization; and

3. Disclosures that constitute a sale of your Protected Health Information. Such authorization will state that the disclosure will result in remuneration to us.

Other uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. If you do give us an authorization, you may revoke it at any time by submitting a written revocation to our Privacy Officer and we will no longer disclose Protected Health Information under the authorization. But disclosure that we made in reliance on your authorization before you revoked it will not be affected by the revocation.

Special Protections for HIV information, Alcohol and Substance Abuse information, Mental Health Information and Genetic Information

Exceptions – Ohio and Federal law gives certain types of medical information more stringent confidentiality protection. Ordinarily, because of the nature of our Practice, we do not have occasion to access, use or disclose such information. If we do use such information, however, our practices are as follows:

AIDS/HIV – For purposes other than patient treatment, public health and safety, organ procurement, accreditation or oversight review, and emergency exposures, we must obtain your specific authorization before we disclose information about HIV/AIDS status or testing results. Thus, for example, we must obtain specific authorization from you before releasing any such information about you for payment or health care operations purposes, but we do not have to do so for treatment purposes.

Mental Health Records – For records, reports and applications pertaining to persons who are or were hospitalized, or whose hospitalization has been sought, pursuant to a court order, disclosure is prohibited, except where the information is disclosed pursuant to a court order, to the patient’s family member involved in treatment, to the executor or administrator of a deceased patient’s estate, to the Department of Mental Health for quality assurance purposes, or to the appropriate prosecuting attorney for commitment proceedings. Information on psychological/mental health matters from any other sources are not given such special protection an may be used or disclosed by the Practice for the general treatment, payment and health care operations purposes, as described above.

Mental Retardation/Development Disabilities – The personal and medical records of all mentally retarded/developmentally disabled persons shall remain confidential, except that such records may be disclosed pursuant to court order and where the managing officer for institution records (appointed by the director of the Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities) believes that disclosure to a mental health facility is in the best interests of the patient. Further, the identity of an individual who requests programs or services offered through the Department of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities shall not be disclosed unless approved by the county board, necessary for approval of a direct service contract, or necessary to ascertain that the county board’s waiting lists for programs or services are being maintained in accordance with the law.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment – Records pertaining to the identity, diagnosis, or treatment of any patient which are maintained in connection with any state-licensed drug treatment program shall be kept confidential, except that such record may be disclosed pursuant to a written release signed by the patient, to court or governmental personnel having responsibility for supervising a parolee or probationary patient ordered to rehabilitation in lieu on convictions, to qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research, management, financial audits, or program evaluation, or pursuant to court order.

Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information

You have the following rights, subject to certain limitations, regarding your Protected Health Information:

Right to Inspect and Copy – You have the right to inspect and copy Protected Health Information that may be used to make decisions about your care or payment for your care. We have up to 30 days to make your Protected Health Information available to you and we may charge you a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. We may not charge you a fee if you need the information for a claim for benefits under the Social Security Act or any other state or federal needs-based benefit program. We may deny your request in certain limited circumstances. If we do deny your request, you have the right to have the denial reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional who was not directly involved in the denial of your request, and we will comply with the outcome of the review.

Right to a Summary or Explanation – We can also provide you with a summary of your Protected Health Information, rather than the entire record, or we can provide you with an explanation of the Protected Health Information which has been provided to you, so long as you agrees to this alternative form and pay the associated fees.

Right to an Electronic Copy of Electronic Medical Records – If your Protected Health Information is maintained in an electronic format (known as an electronic medical record or an electronic health record), you have the right to request that an electronic copy of your record be given to you or transmitted to another individual or entity. We will make every effort to provide access to your Protected Health Information in the form or format you request, if it is readily producible in such form or format. If the Protected Health Information is not readily producible in the form or format you request your record will be provided in either our standard electronic format or if you do not want this form or format, a readable hard copy form. We may charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee for the labor associated with transmitting the electronic medical record.

Right to Get Notice of a Breach – You have the right to be notified upon a breach of any of your unsecured Protected Health Information.

Right to Request Amendments – If you feel that the Protected Health Information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for us. A request for amendment must be made in writing to the Privacy Officer at the address provided at the beginning of this Notice and it must tell us the reason for your request. In certain cases, we may deny your request for an amendment. If we deny your request for an amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures – You have the right to ask for an “accounting of disclosures,” which is a list of the disclosures we made of your Protected Health Information. This right applies to disclosures for purposes other than treatment, payment or healthcare operations as described in this Notice. It excludes disclosures we may have made to you, for a resident directory, to family members or friends involved in your care, or for notification purposes. The right to receive this information is subject to certain exceptions, restrictions and limitations. Additionally, limitations are different for electronic health records. The first accounting of disclosures you request within any 12-month period will be free. For additional requests within the same period, we may charge you for the reasonable costs of providing the account.

Monday  

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday  

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday  

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday  

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday  

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday  

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Milford Only

Sunday  

Closed