Privacy Policy & Practices
Health Information Privacy Policies and Procedures
These Health Information Privacy Policies and Procedures implement our obligations to protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information that we create, receive, or maintain as a healthcare provider.
We implement these Health Information Privacy Policies and Procedures as a matter of sound business practice; to protect the interests of our patients; and to fulfill our legal obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), its implementing regulations at 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 (65 Fed. Reg. 82462 (Dec. 28, 2000) (“Privacy Rules”), as amended by modifications proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in March of 2002, and state law that provides greater protection or rights to patients than the Privacy Rules.
As a member of our workforce or as our Business Associate, you are obligated to follow these Health Information Privacy Policies and Procedures faithfully. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action, including termination of your employment or affiliation with us.
These Policies and Procedures address the basics of HIPAA and the Privacy Rules that apply in our laboratory. They do not attempt to cover everything in the Privacy Rules. The Policies and Procedures sometimes refer to forms we use to help implement the policies and to the Privacy Rules themselves when added detail may be needed.
Please note that while the Privacy Rules speak in terms of “individual” rights and actions, these Policies and Procedures use the more familiar word “patient” instead; “patient” should be read broadly to include prospective patients, patients of record, former patients, their authorized representatives, and any other “individuals” contemplated in the Privacy Rules.
If you have questions or doubts about any use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information or about your other obligations under these Health Information Privacy Policies and Procedures, the Privacy Rules or other federal or state law, consult Oral Pathology Associates, Inc. at (310) 235-1164, before you act.
Raymond J. Melrose, DDS
Audrey L. Boros, MSc, DDS
Adopted Effective: 04/13/2003