USES AND DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TREATMENT, PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS – Updated March 2025
This privacy policy (the “Policy”) is intended to inform you of the types of information Improving Lives CMHC (“we” or “us”) collects, as well as our policies and practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of that information.
Improving Lives uses and discloses your protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. Some examples of when our office may use or disclose your health care information for these purposes include:
- Sharing test results with other health care providers for confirmation of a diagnosis
- Providing your diagnosis or other information about your health to your insurance provider or our billing service to obtain payment for the health care services we provide
- Reviewing information as part of our quality improvement program
OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES
Improving Lives may also use or disclose your protected health information, in compliance with guidelines outlined by law, for the following purposes:
- Providing you with information related to your health
- Contacting you regarding appointments, information about Improving Lives or other health-related services
- Incidental uses or disclosures (e.g., listing your name on a sign-in sheet, etc.)
- Compliance with all laws (including reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or violence)
- Providing certain specified information to law enforcement or correctional institutions
- Information disclosed in the course of a visit by a licensing/regulatory/accrediting body
- Public health activities when requested by a public health authority or the FDA
- Responding to health oversight agencies
- Responding to court or administrative tribunal orders, subpoenas, discovery requests, or other lawful processes
- Research activities
- When necessary to avert a serious threat to health or safety
- Military affairs, veterans affairs, national security, intelligence, Department of State, or presidential protective service activities
- Providing information regarding your location, general condition, or death, to public or private disaster relief agencies
- Providing information to a family member, other relative, or close personal friend, relative to your location, general condition, or death
- To assist in your health care (e.g. pick-up prescriptions or other documents, note follow-up care instructions, etc.)
SMS CONSENT AND PHONE NUMBERS
- SMS consent and phone numbers are not shared with any third parties/affiliates for marketing purposes.
- By opting in to receive SMS messages from Improving Lives, you agree to receive appointment reminders, updates, and promotional messages.
- You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. For assistance, reply HELP.
- Message and data rates may apply.
- Messaging frequency may vary based on your interaction with us.
AUTHORIZATION FOR OTHER USES
Improving Lives CMHC will make other uses and disclosure of your protected health information only after obtaining your written authorization. If you authorize a use not contained in this notice, you may revoke your authorization at any time by notifying us that you wish to revoke your authorization.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
Subject to limitations outlined by law, you have certain rights related to the use and disclosure of your protected health information, including the right to:
- Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures. However, Improving Lives CMHC is not obligated to agree to requested restrictions.
- Receive confidential communications (e.g., home phone, work phone, etc.) or protected health information. We will comply with reasonable requests.
- Request to see or receive an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this. We will provide a copy or summary of your health information, in most instances, within 30 days. If we are unable to provide the requested information within 30 days, we will give you an explanation as to why not.
- Inspect and copy your protected health information, with some limited exceptions.
- Request that we amend or correct your private health information. We may deny your request, but we will notify you why within sixty (60) days.
- Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information, for a period of seven (7) years after your discharge, except for disclosures made at your request, or relative to your treatment, payment, or our Improving Lives CMHC operations.
- Request that someone act on your behalf, for example, by giving someone medical power of attorney, or by appointing someone as your legal guardian.
- Obtain a copy of this notice. We will provide you with a paper copy of the notice promptly upon your request.
IMPROVING LIVES CMHC’S DUTIES REGARDING THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
- Improving Lives CMHC is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.
- Improving Lives CMHC is required to abide by the terms of the privacy notice that is currently in effect.
- Improving Lives CMHC reserves the right to change a privacy practice described in this notice and to make such change effective for all protected health information. Revised notices will be posted in our offices, on our website, and available upon request.
- Improving Lives CMHC is required by law to let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
- Improving Lives CMHC will not use your information other than as described in this patient privacy policy unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
CONCERNS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may make a complaint by contacting:
By phone at: 305-270-5305
By email at: in**@***************ow.com
By mail: 7171 SW 62nd Avenue Suite 300, South Miami, FL 33143