Privacy Policy
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose your health information. For each category we explain what we mean and give some examples. Our records contain information regarding your mental health or may contain information on substance abuse; those records may be subject to additional restrictions under state law, which we will comply with. Also, if you are a minor, certain specific information that relates to mental health, substance abuse, pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, may be protected by additional restrictions under state law, which we will comply with. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities might include audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government benefit programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
About Victims of Abuse.
We may disclose your health information to notify the appropriate government authority if we believe an individual has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.
As Required By Law. We will disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state or local law or regulation.
Communications Regarding Our Services or Products. We may use and disclose your health information to make a communication to you to describe a health-related product or service of The Balm Within, LLC. In addition, we may use or disclose your health information to tell you about products or services related to your treatment, case management or care coordination, or alternative treatments, therapies, providers or settings of care for you. We may occasionally tell you about another company’s products or services, but will use or disclose your health information for such communications only if they occur in person with you.
Treatment Alternatives, Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Benefits.
We may use and disclose your health information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment alternatives or health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you. Additionally, we may use and disclose your health information to contact you by mail or phone to provide appointment reminders. If you do not wish us to contact you about treatment alternatives, health-related benefits or appointment reminders, you must notify us in writing, and state which of those activities you wish to be excluded from.
Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care.
We may release health information about you to a family member or relative, personal representative, or any other person identified by you who is involved in your health care. We may also give information to someone who is involved with or helps pay for your care. We may also tell your family, friends, personal representative or other person responsible for your health care your condition and that you are at a hospital.
Business Associates.
We sometimes contact with third-party business associates for services. For example, these business associates include billing services, medical transcriptionists, answering services, consultants, and attorneys. We will disclose your medical information to our business associates to the extent necessary for them to perform the requested services. Our business associates are required by law to protect your medical information just as we are required to do so.
OTHER USES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
Other uses and disclosures of health information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. These may include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes; (ii) uses and disclosures for marketing purposes, including subsidized treatment communications; (iii) disclosures that constitute a sale of health information. If you provide us with authorization to use or disclose your health information, you may revoke that authorization, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose health information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization.
You understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures we have already made under the authorization, and that we are required to retain our records of the care that we provided to you.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the following rights regarding health information we maintain about you: operations; disclosures made pursuant to your authorization or made directly to you; disclosures made incident to a use or a disclosure otherwise permitted by law; disclosures made to create a limited data set; and disclosures made for national security or intelligence purposes and disclosures made to correctional institutions or to law enforcement officials.
To request this list of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing and submit it to the individual at the address identified at the end of this Notice. Your request must state a time period that may not be longer than six years prior to the date of the request. Your request should indicate in what form you want the list; for example, either paper or electronically. The first list you request within a twelve-month period will be free. For additional lists, during such twelve-month period, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice.
You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this Notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this Notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this Notice.
To obtain a paper copy of this Notice, contact us in writing and submit it to the individual at the address identified at the end of this Notice.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to change this Notice. We reserve the right to make the revised Notice effective for health information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current Notice in a clear and prominent location to which you have access. The Notice is also available to you upon request. The Notice will contain on the first page, in the top right-hand corner, the effective date. In addition, if we revise the Notice, you may request a copy of the revised Notice then in effect.
COMPLAINTS
In the event that there is a breach of your unsecured health information – meaning an unauthorized disclosure where your health information has not been made unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable – we are required to notify you of such breach.
Upon receiving such notification, or if you believe your privacy rights have otherwise been violated, you may file a complaint with Birmingham Maple Clinic or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, contact the Privacy Officer at the address listed at the end of this Notice. All complaints must be submitted in writing.
You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.
If you have any questions about this Notice, please contact:
Privacy Officer – Amy Phillips
29551 Greenfield Road, Suite 112
Southfield, MI 48076