Covid-19 Policy/Response

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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.

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) requires all health care records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed to me in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, to be kept confidential. This federal law gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used. HIPPA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information. As required by law, I have prepared this explanation of how I am required to maintain the privacy of your health information and how we may use and disclose your health information.

Without specific written authorization, I am permitted to use and disclose your health care records for the purpose of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.

* Treatment means providing, coordinating, or managing health care and related services by one or more health care providers. For example, I may need to share information with other health care providers or specialists involved in the continuation of your care.

* Payment means activities such as obtaining reimbursement for services, confirming coverage, billing or collection activities, and utilization review. For example, I may disclose treatment information when billing a medical plan for your medical services.

* Health Care Operations include the business aspects of running my practice. For example, patient information may be used for training purposes, quality assessment, improvement of customer service, and auditing functions.

Unless you request otherwise, I may use or disclose health information to a family member, friend, personal representative, or other individual to the extent necessary to help with your health care or with payment for your health care. In the event of an emergency or your incapacity, I will use my professional judgement in disclosing only the protected health information necessary to facilitate needed care. In addition, I may use your confidential information to remind you of your appointment by sending reminder emails or text messages and/or leaving messages at home and/or work. Your protected health information may also be used by my office to recommend treatment alternatives or to provide you with information about health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. In addition, I may disclose your health information for public health oversight activities, judicial or administrative proceedings, in response to a subpoena or court order, to military authorities of Armed Forces personnel, to federal officials for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities, to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials, and/or to report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. Any other uses and disclosures will made only with your written authorization. You may revoke such authorization in writing, and I am required to honor and abide by that written request, except to the extent that I have already taken actions relying on your authorization.

You have certain rights in regards to your protected health information, which you may exercise by presenting a written request to Danielle Cordon at the practice address listed below:

* The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of protected health information, including those related to disclosures to family members, other relatives, close personal friends, or any other person identified by you. I am, however, not required to agree to a requested restriction. If I do agree to a restriction, I must abide by it unless you agree in writing to remove it.

* The right to receive confidential communications of protected health information from myself by alternative means or at alternative locations.

* The right to access, inspect and copy your protected health information, with limited exceptions. A reasonable fee may be assessed as determined by the Washington State Legislature.

* The right to request an amendment to your protected health information. I may deny your request in certain situations.

* The right to receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information made outside of treatment, payment, or health care operations…or based on your previous authorization.

* The right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from myself upon request, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically.

I am required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide you with notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.

I am required by law to follow legal protocol by notifying you by first class mail as well as the appropriate authorities and sources if and when I become aware that a breach of privacy has occurred within my system.

This notice is effective April 1, 2003, and I am required to abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect. I reserve the right to change the terms of my Notice of Privacy Practices, and to make the new notice provisions effective for all protected health information that I maintain. Revisions to my Notice of Privacy Practices will be reposted on the effective date and you may request a written copy of the Revised Notice from this office.

You have the right to file a formal, written complaint with myself at the address below, or with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, in the event you feel your privacy rights have been violated. I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

For more information about my Privacy Practices, please contact: 

Danielle Cordon, LMT 

4500 9th Ave NE, Ste 300

Seattle, WA 98105

206-229-5627 

Revised 9/15/2015 

For more information about HIPAA or to file a complaint:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Civil Rights

200 Independence Ave, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20201

877-696-6775 (toll free)