Notice of Privacy Practices

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Port Care Pediatrics is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our patients’ health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of protected health information (“PHI”), provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

We will notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your or your child’s information.

How We May Use and Disclose Health Information

We may use or disclose health information without written authorization when permitted or required by law, including for:

Treatment

We may use and share health information with physicians, specialists, laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals involved in your or your child’s care.

Payment

We may use and disclose information to bill and obtain payment from health plans or other entities.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose information as necessary to operate our practice, including quality improvement, staff training, credentialing, compliance, and business administration.

We may also use or disclose health information when permitted or required by law for purposes such as public health activities, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, health oversight activities, responding to certain legal proceedings, workers’ compensation, law enforcement purposes, and preventing a serious threat to health or safety.

Other uses and disclosures of health information that are not permitted by law without authorization will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance upon it.

Your Rights

You have certain rights regarding your or your child’s health information, subject to applicable law. These may include the right to:

• Request access to and obtain a copy of health information.
• Request that we correct or amend health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of health information.
• Request that we communicate with you in a particular way or at a particular location.
• Request an accounting of certain disclosures of health information.
• Obtain a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.
• Choose someone to act on your behalf when legally authorized to do so.
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or exercising your privacy rights.

Parents, Guardians, and Minors

Generally, a parent or legal guardian may exercise privacy rights on behalf of a minor child. However, New York and federal laws provide additional confidentiality protections to minors in certain circumstances. When applicable, Port Care Pediatrics will protect a minor patient’s confidential health information as required by law.

Your Choices

In certain situations, you may tell us how you would like us to share information, such as with family members or others involved in your or your child’s care.

We will obtain your written authorization when required by law, including for certain uses and disclosures involving marketing, the sale of protected health information, and other purposes not otherwise permitted by HIPAA.

Changes to This Notice

We may change the terms of this Notice, and changes may apply to all health information we maintain. The current Notice will be available at our office and on our website.

Questions or Complaints

If you have questions about this Notice, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact:

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.