Privacy Responsibilities Under HIPAA
Texas State law requires that all Health Care Providers (Pregnancy Medical Centers) protect health records in our possession. If you receive services through Pregnancy Lifeline, federal law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), also protects your health information. In addition, HIPAA requires that we provide you this Notice of Privacy Rights. The Notice of Privacy Rights lets you know how we may use and disclose your health information. It also explains your rights regarding the health information we have in our possession.
HEALTH INFORMATION THAT WE MAINTAIN ABOUT YOU
We maintain records of:
- Your name and (if different) the name and relationship of the person receiving Treatment
- Your billing address
- Your telephone number
- Your (or that of the patient’s, if different) condition that brings you here to Pregnancy Lifeline. The date the doctor or nurse reviewed your chart with you.
- Clinical findings related to your condition, such as results of pregnancy tests, limited ultrasound results, blood tests, and any other diagnostic or monitoring tests to ensure your safety
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the right to:
- Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures
- Receive communications of protected health information by alternative means or at alternative locations
- Inspect, copy and amend your protected health information held at Pregnancy Lifeline
- Receive an accounting of certain disclosures (of your protected health information)
- Receive a paper copy of this notice even if you have received it electronically
HOW WE USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
We only use or disclose your health information as state and federal laws require or permit. In some cases, the law requires that you authorize the disclosure. In other cases, the law allows us to disclose your health information without your authorization.
USE AND DISCLOSURE NOT REQUIRING YOUR AUTHORIZATION
Treatment: We may use your health information for our treatment activities, such as disclosing it to other healthcare providers as helpful to treat you.
Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information to manage our program operations, such as reviewing the quality of services you receive.
Business Associates: We may disclose your health information to organizations that help us with our work. We have a written agreement that requires these organizations to use your health information for only the reasons necessary to do the work and protect it from other uses or disclosures, just as we do.
To Contact You: We may use the information in your health records to contact you if we have information about treatment or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
OTHER PERMITTED USES AND DISCLOSURES
HIPAA specifically permits us to use or disclose your health information for other purposes without your consent or authorization. In our experience such disclosures are rare, and the limited information we maintain is generally not applicable.
- Comply with the requirements of federal, state, or local laws, court orders or other lawful process, and for administrative or court proceedings
- Report to the FDA for the quality, safety, or effectiveness of FDA-regulated products or activities
- Notify a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition
- Report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to a government authority
- Provide necessary information to a health oversight agency for activities, such as audits, investigations, inspections, licensure of the healthcare system, government benefit programs, and regulated entities
- Prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public
However, when authorized by law, and to the extent we may have the information, HIPAA also permits us to disclose your information to the following entities:
- Public health authority for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability
- Law enforcement official for specified law enforcement purposes
- Coroners or medical examiners for identification or for determining cause of death
- Funeral directors to carry out their duties with respect to the decedent
- Organ procurement organizations for facilitating donation and transplantation
- Researchers conducting studies approved by an Institutional Review Board
- Authorized federal officials for specialized government functions such as, military and veterans activities, national security and intelligence activities, protective services for the president, medical suitability determinations, correctional institutions, government entities providing public benefits and complying with workers’ compensation law
USES AND DISCLOSURES WITH YOUR AUTHORIZATION
Other uses and disclosures or your personal information require your written authorization. You may revoke your authorization at any time by doing so in writing.
HOW YOU CAN REACH US
If you want additional information about our privacy practices or if you believe Pregnancy Lifeline has violated your privacy rights, you may file a complaint by contacting:
Pregnancy Lifeline HIPAA Privacy Compliance Officer
4747 South Hulen Street, Suite 103
Fort Worth, TX 76132
817-292-6449
Pregnancy Lifeline does not retaliate against people who file a complaint.
ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION
- Confidential HIV-related information for which additional protections are provided by state law
- Alcohol or substance abuse treatment information for which additional protections are provided by state law
- Mental health treatment information for which additional protections are provided by Texas state law
