HIPPA Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how Marion County Services Inc. (DBA Abilities) may use and/or disclose medical information about you, and how you can get access to this information.  Please review it carefully.

This Notice will explain:

• How we may use and disclose your medical/health information;

• Our obligations related to the use and disclosure of your medical/health information; and

• Your rights related to any medical/health information that we have about you.

 

This Notice applies to the medical/health records that are generated in or by this facility. The terms “medical” and “medical/health” in this Notice means information about your physical or mental conditions which make you eligible for our services, or which arise while we are serving you. This policy is to be reviewed annually for all employees, adult household members, relief/respite providers, and volunteers.

Understanding Your Health Record/Information

Abilities has a mission, “To Increase Choice, Respect, Ability & Involvement,” as well as to protect and promote the needs and health of our Individuals.   To do this the Federal Government enacted laws and/or rules that require reporting of individually identifiable protected health information (PHI,) secondary to the Federal Laws the State of Missouri has state laws and regulations. These laws detail what data are confidential, under what circumstances that data may be disclosed, and penalties for inappropriate disclosures.  Abilities staff and their associates are required to follow these laws.

Abilities may disclose your health information to health care providers to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations.  This information will only be shared with health care providers that have signed an agreement with Abilities or who have a direct treatment relationship with you.  It will not be used for any other purpose except in an aggregate form that does not identify you, without your specific written consent or that of your guardian, durable power of attorney for health care, or parent, if you are a minor.  Confidentiality of the information will be maintained as required by applicable state and federal laws. 

Abilities may also disclose protected health information to other state and federal agencies that provide funds for health care benefits an individual receives.

Personnel records and disclosures of PHI will be maintained for a period of six years as required by federal law, unless a state law requires a longer retention period. Records that have been maintained for the maximum interval will be destroyed in a manner to ensure that such data are not compromised in the future in accordance with the company record destruction policy.

Under 45 CFR 160-164, you have the right to:

• Ask us to limit what we use or share.  Abilities is not required to agree, and may say “no” if it would affect your care or if disclosure is required by state or federal law.

• Get a copy of your health care information.  You may be charged a cost-based fee for copies.

• Ask us to amend or update your health care information if it is inaccurate.

• Get a list of those with whom we have shared information.

• Request confidential communications.

• Get a paper copy of this notice.

• Be notified if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

• File a complaint if you feel your rights were violated.

Abilities reserves the right to change its privacy practices described in this notice.  The revised privacy practices will be effective for all PHI maintained by Abilities.  Abilities will publish all revisions on Abilities website at https://mcsabilities.wixsite.com/abilities. You may access and print a copy of the current policies or you may request a printed copy from Abilities.   Requests for copies of your health information may be sent in writing to Abilities at 3175 Palmyra Rd, Hannibal, MO 63401, and should specify the information requested.

If you think your privacy rights have been violated or have questions about HIPPA, you may contact Steven Mitchell, Acting Regional Manager, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 240 Chicago, IL 60601 Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019 Fax: (202) 619-3818
TDD: (800) 537-7697 Email: ocrmail@hhs.gov