Meridian Surgery Center HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: April 3, 2023
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.
Meridian Surgery Center (hereinafter referred to as “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI). We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices. This Notice explains our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI, as well as your rights concerning your PHI. We are required to follow the terms of this Notice, and we may change the terms of this Notice at any time.
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
We may use and disclose your PHI for the following purposes:
- Treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and any related services. For example, we may share your PHI with other healthcare providers involved in your care.
- Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for healthcare services we provide to you. For example, we may share your PHI with your health insurance company to obtain reimbursement for your treatment.
- Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI for our healthcare operations, such as quality assessment, improvement activities, and evaluating our staff’s performance. For example, we may use your PHI to assess the quality of care you received at our facility.
- Appointment Reminders, Treatment Alternatives, and Health-Related Benefits: We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you about appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, or other health-related benefits that may be of interest to you.
- As Required by Law: We may use and disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
- Public Health and Safety: We may use and disclose your PHI for public health activities, such as preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, or reporting adverse reactions to medications.
Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information
You have the following rights regarding your PHI:
- Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI, with some exceptions. You may be charged a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies associated with your request.
- Right to Amend: If you believe that your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request an amendment, provided that you give a reason to support your request.
- Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI. This does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or certain other purposes.
- Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request restrictions on our use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to your request but will consider it carefully.
- Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your PHI in a certain way or at a certain location.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice electronically.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any changes will apply to all PHI we maintain. We will post the updated Notice on our website and make it available at our facility.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, please contact our Privacy Officer at the address and phone number provided below. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this Notice, our privacy practices, or your privacy rights, please contact our Privacy Officer:
Privacy Officer: Lisa Gerwig
Meridian Surgery Center
19638 Leitersburg Pike Suite 205, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Phone: 240-850-3170
Fax: 240-513-4540
Email: lisa@themeridiansurgerycenter.com
Acknowledgment of Receipt of Notice
You may be asked to sign an acknowledgment form that you have received a copy of this Notice. If you are unable to sign the acknowledgment, we will document our good faith effort to obtain your signature and the reason why it was not obtained.