CODE OF CONDUCT

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.

This Notice of Privacy Practices is being provided to you as a requirement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HealthBack must abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect, but HealthBack reserves the right to change the terms. If there is a change, HealthBack will provide you with a written, revised notice as soon as practicable by mail or hand delivery.

            As a client of HealthBack, HealthBack may use your protected health information for purposes of providing treatment, obtaining payment for treatment, and conducting health care operations. For example, we may share your health information with a laboratory that performs a test. We may use and disclose health information about you to get your health plan to authorize services or referrals. We may use and disclose your health  information to review and improve the quality of care we provide, or the competence and qualifications of our professional staff. We may also share your health information with our business associates, such as a billing service, that perform administrative services for us. We have a written contract with each business associate that contains terms requiring them to protect the confidentiality of your health information.

            Such information may include your medical records, psychological, drug abuse or chemical dependency, laboratory tests, and any other related financial or medical information about you. By Oklahoma law we are required to notify you  that your medical information used or disclosed as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices may include records which may indicate the presence of a communicable or venereal disease which may include, but are not limited to, diseases such as hepatitis, syphilis, gonorrhea and the human immunodeficiency virus, also known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Specifically when needed, your health information may be disclosed to:

1.                  Your insurance company, self-funded or third party health plan, Medicare,

Medicaid, or any other person or entity that may be responsible for paying or processing for payment any portion of your bill for services;

2.                  Any person or entity affiliated with or representing for purposes of administration, billing, and quality and risk management;

3.                  Any hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility to which you may be admitted;

4.                  Any assisted living or personal care facility of which you are a resident;

5.                  Any physician providing you care;

6.                  Family members and other caregivers who are part of your home care plan for service;

7.                  Licensing and accrediting bodies, including the information contained in the OASIS Data Set to the state agency acting as a representative of the Medicare/Medicaid program;

8.                  Contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about other health activities we provide.

HealthBack is permitted to use or disclose information about you without consent or authorization in the following circumstances;

1.                  In emergency treatment situations, if HealthBack attempts to obtain consent as soon as practicable after treatment;

2.                  Where substantial barriers to communicating with you exist and HealthBack determines that the consent is clearly inferred from the circumstances;

3.                  Where HealthBack is required by law to provide treatment and we are unable to obtain consent;

4.                  Where the use or disclosure is required by law;

5.                  For certain public health activities;

6.                  Where HealthBack reasonably believes you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to a government authority authorized to receive abuse, neglect or domestic violence;

7.                  Health care oversight activities;

8.                  Certain judicial administrative proceedings;

9.                  Certain law enforcement purposes;

10.              To coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors, in certain circumstances;

11.              For cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation purposes;

12.              For certain research purposes;

13.              To avert a serious threat to health and safety;

14.              For specialized government functions, including military and veterans’ activities, national security and intelligence activities, protective services for the President and others, medical suitability determinations, correctional institution and custodial situations;

15.              For Workers’ Compensation purposes.

HealthBack is permitted to use or disclose information about you without consent or authorization provided you are informed in advance and given the opportunity to agree to or prohibit or restrict the disclosure in the following circumstances:

1.                  The use of a directory of individuals served by HealthBack;

2.                  To a family member, relative, friend, or other identified person, the information relevant to such persons involvement in your care or payment for care.

Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization.

That authorization may be revoked, in writing, at any time, except in limited situations.

YOUR RIGHTS

             You have the right, subject to certain conditions, to:

1.                  Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of information about you. However, HealthBack is not required to agree to the requested restriction;

2.                  Receive confidential communication of protected health information;

3.                  Inspect and copy protected health information;

4.                  Amend protected health information;

5.                  Receive an accounting of disclosures

6.                  Obtain a paper copy of this notice, if you had agreed to receive this notice electronically. 

COMPLAINTS

            You may complain to HealthBack and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated. Complaints about this Notice of Privacy Practices or how HealthBack handles your protected health information should be directed to:

           

HealthBack Privacy Officer
Address: 7504 N. Broadway Ext., Oklahoma City, OK  73116
Phone #: (405) 842-1700

Please state the specific incident(s) in terms of subject, date and other relevant matters. If  you  are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles a complaint, you may submit a formal complaint to:

The Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Civil Rights
Herbert H. Humphrey Building, Room 509 F
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

 You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

 This Notice is effective beginning April 14, 2003.

BILLING AND CODING COMPLIANCE

We have in place policies, procedures and systems to facilitate accurate billing to government payers, commerical insurance payers, and patients.  These policies, procedures, and systems conform to pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations.  We prohibit any colleague or agent of HealthBack from knowingly presenting or causing to be presented claims for payment or approval which are false, ficticious, or fraudulent.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Deficient Reduction Act of 2005 requires all Medicaid recipient entities (HealthBack) to develop and distribute policies, outlining federal and state false claims acts, as well as information regardng whistleblower protections and the entities policies to reduce fraud and abuse.

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Brown, Ethics and Compliance Officer at (405) 842-1700.