Notice of Privacy Practices

The content provided here has been adapted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section of our website explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

To exercise any of these rights, call Prosano Health Solutions at 1-855-PROSANO (1-855-776-7266), or call the Privacy Office at 602-864-2255 or 800-232-2345, ext. 2255.

Get a copy of your health and claims records

• You can ask to see or get a copy of the health information we have about you. To ask us how to do this, call Prosano Health Solutions at 1-855-PROSANO (1-855-776-7266).
• We will provide a copy or a summary of your health records, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

Ask us to correct your health and claims records

• You can ask us to correct your health and claims records if you think they are incorrect or incomplete. To ask us how to do this, call Prosano Health Solutions at (1-855-776-7266).
• We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why—in writing—within 60 days.

Request confidential communications

• You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.
• We will consider all reasonable requests, and must say “yes” if you tell us you would be in danger if we do not.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

• You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations.
• We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care
• Prosano Health participates in a Health Information Exchange (HIE). You can ask us to not share information with the HIE or limit information we share related to HIV or substance abuse.

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

• You can ask for a list (called an accounting request) of the times we’ve shared your health information, who we shared it with, and why, for up to six years prior to the date you ask.
• You can request a copy of the information held in the HIE or the individuals who have accessed your information.
• We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make).

• You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

• If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
• We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us at:
BCBSAZ Privacy Office, PO Box 13466, C300, Phoenix, AZ 85002-3466; by calling 602-864-2255 or 1-800-232-2345, ext. 2255; or by emailing us at [email protected]

You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to:
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201; by calling 1-877-696-6775; or by visiting hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

You have the right to choose specific people—family, close friends, or others—with whom we can share certain health information, in specific situations. These are:

1. People who may be involved in helping you get medical care or pay for services, such as:

• A friend who sometimes picks up prescriptions for you
• A close relative who handles your medical bills
• A son or daughter who goes with you to doctor visits

2. The people you want us to contact if you have a medical emergency

In a disaster situation, in may be in your best interest for us to share your protected health information with public or private entities that are allowed to have this information by law in order to assist in disaster-relief efforts. However, the choice is yours. You can tell us whether or not we have your permission to share your information with disaster-relief organizations in the event of a disaster.

If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in any of the situations described above, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

If you are not able to tell us your preference (for example if you are unconscious), we may share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety.

We will not sell or use your information for marketing purposes. However, if that changes, we will request your written permission.

Our Uses and Disclosures
We typically use or share your health information to:

Help manage the healthcare treatment you receive
We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.

Example: A doctor sends us information about your diagnosis and treatment plan so we can coordinate additional care.

Run our practice
We can use and disclose your information to run the practice and contact you when necessary.

Example: We use health information about you to provide better care.

Receive payment for services
We can disclose your health information to insurance companies to receive payment for services rendered to you in our office or by our staff.

HOW ELSE CAN WE USE OR SHARE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION?
We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways—usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We must meet many conditions under the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information, see hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

Help with public health and safety issues

We can share health information about you for certain public health purposes, such as:

• Preventing disease
• Helping with product recalls
• Reporting adverse reactions (things like bad side effects or allergic reactions) to medications
• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

Do research
We can use or share your information for health research.

Comply with the law
We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services, if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Respond to organ and tissue donation requests, and work with a medical examiner or funeral director

• We can share health information about you with organizations that handle organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation.
• When an individual dies, we can share their health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

We can use or share health information about you:

• For workers’ compensation claims
• For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
• With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI). We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information. We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice. If you request a hard copy of this notice, we must provide one for you.

We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us in writing that we can share it. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

For more information, see hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

CHANGES TO THE TERMS OF THIS NOTICE
Effective Date: January 1, 2023
We can change the terms of this notice at any time, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. If we do, we will post a revised notice to our website, prosanohealth.com and post a copy in the office. You will also receive a copy of the updated notice at your next visit