Privacy Policy
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES DESCRIBES HOW PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED OR DISCLOSED BY PAI TO CARRY OUT PAYMENT, HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAT ARE PERMITTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW. THIS NOTICE ALSO SETS OUT OUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION AND DESCRIBES YOUR RIGHTS TO ACCESS AND CONTROL YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION.
Protected health information (PHI) is individually identifiable health information, including demographic information, collected from you or created or received by a health care provider, a health plan or a health care clearinghouse and that relates to: (i) your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition; (ii) the provision of health care to you; or (iii) the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to you.
Please read this Notice carefully. Your privacy rights are important to us.
Legal Requirements
PAI is required by federal and state law to maintain the confidentiality of your private health information. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), we are also required to provide this Notice of our privacy practices, our legal responsibilities, and your rights regarding your private health information. PAI is required to follow the practices listed in this Notice.
This Notice may change at any time, consistent with prevailing federal and state laws. New notices will be posted when changed, and will be made available upon request. If you have any questions about the provisions contained within this Notice, please call 717-519-6740 to speak with the HIPAA Privacy/Security Official.
How do we use and disclose your health information?
PAI uses and discloses your Protected Health Information (PHI) for treatment, payment, and health care operations in compliance with HIPAA. Specific examples of permitted uses and/or disclosures of your PHI include the following:
Treatment
In order to provide the best possible service to you, it may be necessary for PAI to share your PHI. For example, we may need to share your PHI with a supports coordinator who is responsible for coordinating your services and supports. We may also use or disclose PHI to members of your interdisciplinary team – therapist, physician—for the development and evaluation of treatment plans. PHI may be disclosed to support staff and volunteers for the purposes of implementing your treatment plan.
Payment
In order for PAI to obtain payment, it may use or disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services provided by us. The invoice may include, but is not limited to, information that will identify you, including name, diagnosis, BSU number, county ID number and PAI ID number. Before you receive services, it may be necessary to disclose PHI to your insurance company, health plan, county, or other third party payer to permit them to make a determination of eligibility or coverage, review the medical necessity of your services, review your coverage, or review the appropriateness of care.
Operations
PAI may use or disclose your PHI during the course of our internal operations for purposes including but not limited to individual program design, business management, general administrative duties, quality assessment and improvement activities, legal and accounting reviews, business planning and development, licensing, training, and risk management. PAI may use PHI in your record to assess plan supports and services. This information will be used in an effort to improve the quality and effectiveness of the services we provide. PAI will hire business associates to assist in our ongoing operation. These may include attorneys, auditors, insurance brokers, and IT Specialist, who may have access to your PHI. We will have a signed business associate agreement which will protect the privacy of your PHI.
Emergency Notification
PAI may use or disclose your PHI in the event of a medical emergency to obtain treatment consistent with the medical emergency and to notify a family member or other person responsible for your care in the event of a medical emergency. Such use or disclosure will be limited to the minimum necessary to obtain specific treatment or notification, or as authorized by you.
Health, Safety, Welfare
Employees of PAI are “mandated reporters.” As such, we are required by law to report suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or other incidents defined by the PA Department of Public Welfare which are potentially harmful to your health, safety, and welfare. We report suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or incidents potentially harmful to your health, safety, and welfare to the appropriate authorities.
Notification and Communication With Family
PAI may disclose your health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, your personal representative or another person responsible for your care about your location, your general condition or in the event of your death. If you are able and available to agree or object, PAI will give you the opportunity to object prior to making this notification. If you are unable or unavailable to agree or object, our health professionals will use their best judgment in communication with your family and others.
Required by Law
As required by law, PAI may use and disclose your health information.
Public Health
As required by law, PAI may disclose your health information to public health authorities for purposes related to: preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability; reporting to the Food and Drug Administration problems with products and reactions to medications and reporting disease or infection exposure.
Health Oversight Activities
PAI may disclose your health information to health agencies during the course of audits, investigations, inspections, licensure and other proceedings.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
PAI may disclose your health information in the course of any administrative or judicial proceeding.
Law Enforcement
PAI may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes such as identifying of locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person, complying with a court order or subpoena and other law enforcement purposes.
Deceased Person Information
PAI may disclose your health information to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors.
Organ Donation
PAI may disclose your health information to organizations involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues.
Research
PAI may disclose your health information to researchers conducting research that has been approved by an Institutional Review Board or PAI’s privacy board.
Public Safety
PAI may disclose your health information to appropriate persons in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular person or the general public.
Business Associates
PAI may contract with individuals and entities (Business Associates) to perform various functions on our behalf or to provide certain types of services. To perform these functions or to provide the services, or Business Associates will receive, create, maintain, use or disclose protected health information, but only after PAI requires the Business Associate to agree in writing to contract terms designed to appropriately safeguard your information.
Potential Impact of State Law
The HIPAA Privacy rule generally does not preempt (or take precedence over) state privacy and other applicable laws that provide individuals greater privacy protections. As a result, to the extent state law applies, the privacy laws of a particular state, or other federal laws, rather than the HIPAA Privacy Regulations might impose a privacy standard under which PAI will be required to operate.
What are your rights?
Access Rights
With limited exception, you have the right to view your PHI. We reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee to cover our costs related to providing you access to your PHI. Requests to view your PHI or to receive a summary or explanation of your PHI may be made to a management employee and/or the Privacy Official.
Amendment Rights
You have the right to request amendment to your PHI. Requests must be made in writing and contain the specific information for which amendment is requested and the reason for the requested amendment. Requests should be made to the Privacy Official. PHI that was not created by PAI or is accurate and complete as determined by the Privacy Official will not be amended.
Disclosure Rights (Accounting for Disclosure)
You have the right to be informed of those instances in which your PHI was used or disclosed without your consent or authorization for purposes other than those outlined in this Notice. In such instances, and at your request, PAI will notify you, in writing, of such use or disclosure and will further outline the steps taken to mitigate and resolve such use or disclosure.
Alternative Communication
You have the right to request your PHI in alternative ways. For example, if PAI were to send you a postcard reminder about a meeting, you may request to receive that in a closed confidential envelope instead of the postcard.
Required by Law
PAI may use or disclose your PHI when required to do so by state or federal law. Specific examples include but are not limited to: response to a subpoena or court order and matters of national security.
Authorization for Release of Information
Except as required by law, PAI will not release your PHI to a third party without a duly executed Authorization, in accordance with PAI’s Privacy Policy. You may rescind such Authorization at any time for any reason.
Disclosure Rights
You have the right to be informed of those instances in which your PHI was used or disclosed without your consent or authorization for purposes other than those outlined in this Notice. In such instances, and at your request, PAI will notify you, in writing, of such use or disclosure and will further outline the steps taken to mitigate and resolve such use or disclosure.
Amendment Rights
You have the right to request amendment to your PHI. Requests must be made in writing and contain the specific information for which amendment is requested and the reason for the requested amendment. Requests should be made to the Privacy Official. PHI that was not created by PAI or is accurate and complete as determined by the Privacy Official will not be amended.
Marketing
PAI will not use your PHI for marketing, fundraising, or public relations without your authorization.
Intimidation and Retaliation
PAI will not refuse to provide treatment, refuse to arrange for treatment, nor will we intimidate or retaliate against any individuals exercising their rights under HIPAA or as outlined in this Notice.
Questions and Complaints
If you have any questions about this Notice or would like to request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact us by calling 717-519-6740 and requesting to speak to the HIPAA Privacy Official, or by writing to us at the address below. Alternatively, you may send an electronic mail (e-mail) message to the following address:
PAI Corporation
Attention: HIPAA Privacy Official
1810 Rohrerstown Road
Lancaster, PA 17601 hipaacompliance@paipartners.org
A formal written complaint may be registered using the same contact information as above if you have any concerns about your privacy rights, or feel that we have violated them, or you disagree with a decision regarding access to your Protected Health Information (PHI). You also may submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will provide you the address to file your complaint upon request. In compliance with the Intimidation and Retaliation provisions of this Notice, PAI will take no deleterious actions against any person exercising their rights by contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Contact:
PAI 1810 Rohrerstown Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-519-6740
Fax: 717-519-6746
Contact:
PAI Human Resources
Phone: 717-519-6740 ext. 219
Fax: 717-519-6746
Email: hr@paipartners.org
Contact:
Conni Jones, Director of Adult Day Services
Phone: 717-519-6740 ext. 225
Fax: 717-519-6746
Email: cjones@paipartners.org
Events Contact
Jim Arnold
Phone: 717-519-6740
Fax: 717-519-6746
email: jarnold@paipartners.org
Contact:
Laurie A. Kleynen, Director of Residential Services
Phone: 717-519-6740 ext. 209
Fax: 717-519-6746
Email: lkleynen@paipartners.org
