Privacy Policy
A legal disclaimer
By law, Cline Pediatrics, PA must protect the privacy of your personal health information. Cline Pediatrics, PA retains this type of information because you receive health benefits from Cline Pediatrics, PA. Under federal law, your health information (known as “protected health information” or “PHI”) includes what health plan you are enrolled in and the type of health plan coverage you have. This notice explains your rights and our legal duties and privacy practices.
Privacy Policy - the basics
Cline Pediatrics, PA will abide by the terms of this notice. Should our information practices materially change, Cline Pediatrics, PA reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and must abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect. Any new notice provisions will affect all protected health information we already maintain, as well as protected health information that we may receive in the future. We will mail revised notices to the address you have supplied and will post the updated notice on our website at www.clineped.com.
What to include in the Privacy Policy
We use and disclose protected health information (“PHI”) in several ways to carry out our responsibilities. The following describes the types of uses and disclosures of PHI that federal law requires or permits Cline Pediatrics, PA to make without your authorization:
Payment Activities: Cline Pediatrics, PA may use and share PHI for payment activities, such as paying administrative fees for health care, paying health care claims, and determining eligibility for health benefits.
Health Care Operations: Cline Pediatrics, PA may use and share PHI to operate its programs that include evaluating the quality of health care services you receive, arranging for legal and auditing services (including fraud and abuse detection); and performing analyses to reduce health care costs and improve plan performance.
To Provide You Information on Health-Related Programs or Products: Such information may include alternative medical treatments or programs or about health-related products and services, subject to limits imposed by law as of September 23, 2013
Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures: Cline Pediatrics, PA may use and share PHI as follows:
• to resolve complaints or inquiries made by you or on your behalf (such as appeals).
• to enable business associates that perform functions on our behalf or provide services if the information is necessary for such functions or services. Our business associates are required, under contract with us, to protect the privacy of your information and are not allowed to use or disclose any information other than as specified in our contract. Our business associates are also directly subject to federal privacy laws.
• for data breach notification purposes. We may use your contact information to provide legally required notices of unauthorized acquisition, access or disclosure of your health information.
• to verify the agency and plan performance (such as audits).
• to communicate with you about your - (such as your annual
benefits statement).
• for judicial and administrative proceedings (such as in response to a court order).
• for research studies that meet all privacy requirements; and
• to tell you about new or changed benefits and services or health care choices.
Required Disclosures: Cline Pediatrics, PA must use and share your PHI when requested by you or someone who has the legal right to make such a request on your behalf (your Personal representative), when requested by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to make sure your privacy is being protected, and when otherwise required by law.
To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Privacy Policy”.