CERTIFICATE OF PRIVACY ASSURANCE TO PATIENTS
Welcome to our HIPAA-FREE office. The protection of your health information is a high priority in our office. The confidence and trust you have placed with us is appreciated and honored.
Under the new federal rules connected with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), your personal and health care information could be obtained by many third parties (including government agencies) without your consent. The new rules for HIPAA entity offices only require a notice or a log to be created when your records, in many situations, are used or disclosed.
Any health care provider who engages in any standard electronic transactions with others is considered under the law to be a HIPAA entity. The initial objective of the law was to stop and prevent the abuses that took place when patient health information entered the electronic world. However, under this HIPAA law – which has expanded – thousands of workers and many government agencies could have virtually unrestricted access to your health care records without your consent. It would not be possible for us to give maximum protection to your patient information if we were a HIPAA entity.
Therefore, our office has chosen to be a “HIPAA-Free” office. In our opinion, it is currently the best “protected health information” option available for our patients. We will not engage in any electronic transaction with others, as defined by HIPAA. Our office will not subject your information to the vulnerability and risks of the electronic world. Once your records enter into computer networks, your privacy is at risk – no matter how many rules are allegedly in force to protect you.
Additionally, we will be better able to serve your needs by concentrating on your health care problems and concerns instead of having to constantly respond to complex and ever changing HIPAA rules and regulations.
IN SUMMARY: our office will not be subject to HIPAA because we do not do electronic transactions. In fact, we do not file insurance claims. You will be given a receipt and, if you choose, you can submit that to your insurance company. You may or may not get reimbursed, but that is between you and your insurance company. We do not respond to your insurance company should they request additional information. We are not part of any private or government insurance programs.
Be assured that your records will NOT be disclosed nor released to anyone outside of our practice without your written consent unless specifically required to do so by law. We will continue to honor your trust in us and to protect your health information. As a HIPAA free office, we can and will maintain the highest standards of excellence in privacy matters.