Privacy Policy

TREATMENT

We may use or disclose your protected health information to arrange for the provision of your medical treatment or services. For example, the provider delivering health care services to you will record information related to your treatment. This information is necessary for us to perform certain functions, including but not limited to, medical records reviews, investigating quality of care complaints, conducting quality improvement studies, and fulfilling other obligations as required under applicable law and regulations.

PAYMENT

We may use or disclose your protected health information to process claims or make payments for covered services you receive under your benefit plan. For example, your provider may submit a claim to us for payment, which will include identifying information, your diagnosis, and details of the treatment or supplies used in the course of treatment.

HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS

We may use or disclose your protected health information for health care operations, which include, but are not limited to, quality assessment and improvement activities, underwriting, premium rating, management, and general administrative activities. For example, our quality improvement team may use your health records to assess the quality of care provided and determine how to improve service effectiveness, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and accreditation requirements.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

There may be instances where services are provided through contracts with third-party business associates. When such arrangements involve the use or disclosure of your protected health information, we require written contracts ensuring that business associates maintain the same high standards of privacy protection as our employees and affiliates.

REQUIRED BY LAW

We will disclose protected health information about you when required by federal, state, or local law.

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS

Our service professionals, using their best judgment, may disclose your protected health information to a family member, close personal friend, or any other individual you identify, if relevant to their involvement in your care or payment for your care.

MARKETING

We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to provide you with information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

RESEARCH

We may disclose protected health information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established privacy protection protocols.

CORONERS, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS

We may disclose protected health information to a coroner or medical examiner as permitted by law, and to funeral directors for their duties.

PUBLIC HEALTH

As required by law, we may disclose protected health information to public health authorities for purposes related to disease prevention, control, injury, or disability management.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)

We may disclose information to the FDA regarding adverse events, product defects, recalls, or post-marketing surveillance.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

We may disclose protected health information as required by laws governing workers’ compensation or similar programs.

TO AVERT A SERIOUS THREAT TO HEALTH OR SAFETY

We may use and disclose protected health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or that of the public or another individual, as permitted by applicable laws.

MILITARY AND VETERANS

If you are a member of the armed forces, we may disclose protected health information as required by military command authorities.

HEALTH OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES

We may disclose protected health information to a health oversight agency for activities including audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure compliance.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR THE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

We may disclose protected health information to authorized federal officials for national security activities, such as protecting the President, authorized persons, or foreign heads of state, as permitted by law.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

We may disclose protected health information to law enforcement officials as part of an investigation, criminal case, emergency circumstance, or in response to a court order.

INMATES

We may disclose protected health information about an inmate of a correctional institution or an individual under law enforcement custody, to the appropriate authorities.

LAWSUITS AND DISPUTES

We may disclose protected health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or court order.

PLAN SPONSORS

We may disclose protected health information to your plan sponsor for administrative functions, provided that proper safeguards are in place as required under HIPAA regulations