This notice describes how medical information about your child may be used and disclosed and
how you can get access to this information. Please read this information carefully.
It is our responsibility to safeguard your child’s protected health information.
Protected Health Information (PHI) includes information about your child’s past and present health condition, health care services we provide to your child and payment information about the services we provided to your child. It also includes information that can be used to identify your child. We are required by applicable federal and state law to maintain the privacy of your child’s health information. We must provide you with this notice about our privacy practices that explains how, when and why we may use or disclose your child’s PHI. We are required to notify you if you are affected by a breach of unsecured PHI. With some exceptions, we may not use or disclose any more of your child’s PHI than is necessary to accomplish the purpose of the use or disclosure.
We are required to follow the privacy practices described in this notice. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and our privacy practices at any time. Any changes we may make will apply to any PHI we already have. Before we make a change to our policies we will change this notice, post new notices publicly and post the new notice on our web site, www.knoxpediatrics.com.
How we may use and disclose your child’s Protected Health Information (PHI).
We use and disclose your child’s PHI for many different reasons. We have the right to use and disclose your child’s PHI for purposes of treating your child, seeking payment for the treatment and services provided to your child and to operate Knoxville Pediatric Associates. For other uses of your child’s PHI, we must have your written permission unless the law requires or permits the use or disclosure without your authorization.
For Treatment - We may disclose your child’s PHI to doctors, nurses and other health care personnel involved in providing care to your child. For example, your child’s PHI will be shared with members of your child’s treatment team. It may also be shared with outside entities performing services relating to your child’s treatment, such as laboratory testing.
To Obtain Payment for Treatment and Services - We may use and disclose your child’s PHI in order to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided to your child. For example, we may provide your child’s PHI to our billing department and your health insurer in order to obtain payment for services we provided. We also may contact your employer to confirm information about your health insurer.
For Health Care Operations - We may use and disclose your child’s PHI in the course of operating Knoxville Pediatric Associates. For example, we may use your child’s PHI in evaluating the quality of services we provided or to evaluate the performance of the health care professionals who provided services. We may also provide your child’s PHI to our accountants, attorneys, consultants and others to make sure we are complying with the laws and regulations that affect us.
When Required by Law - We may disclose PHI when a law requires that we report information to government agencies and law enforcement personnel about victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence, when dealing with gunshot and other wounds, or when responding to a court order.
For Public Health Activities - PHI may be disclosed when we are required to collect information about disease or injury to report vital statistics to the public health department.
For Health Oversight Activities - We may disclose PHI to an agency responsible for monitoring the health care system or to assist the government when it conducts an inspection of a health care provider or organization.
Incidental Uses and Disclosures - PHI may be used and disclosed incidentally. For example, we may use sign-in sheets in waiting rooms or call out your child’s name in a waiting room.
To Avoid Harm - We may disclose PHI to avoid a serious threat to the health and safety of a person or the public.
For Specific Government Functions - We may disclose PHI to correctional facilities, to governmental benefit programs regarding eligibility and enrollment, and for national security purposes.
For Worker’s Compensation - We may disclose PHI in order to comply with Worker’s Compensation laws.
Uses and disclosures requiring your authorization
For uses and disclosures not generally described above, we must obtain your authorization. You may withdraw your authorization at any time to stop future uses and disclosures of your child’s PHI. Examples of uses and disclosures that require your authorization include:
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- Uses and disclosures that constitute the sale of PHI;
- Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes; and
- Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice
Uses and disclosure to which you may object
Disclosures to family, friends and others - We may share PHI with family members, friend(s) or other individuals you indicate are involved in the care of your child. You may object to this use in whole or in part. In an emergency situation, we may not have an opportunity for you to object until after the emergency has passed.
Your rights regarding your child’s PHI.
You have the following rights with respect to your child’s PHI:
To request limits on the use and disclosures of your child’s PHI - You have the right to ask that we limit how we use and disclose your child’s PHI. We will consider your request, but are not required to accept it. If we accept your request, we will document the limits in writing and abide by them, except in an emergency situation. You may not limit the use and disclosure of your child’s PHI that we are legally required or allowed to make.
To see and copy your child’s PHI - In most cases, you have the right to see and obtain copies of your child’s PHI, and you must make the request to see it in writing. There may be situations where we have to deny your request but will give you the reasons for the denial in writing and explain your right to have the denial reviewed. You may be charged a fee for requested copies depending on the circumstances. You have a right to choose the portions of your child’s PHI you wish copied and to receive prior information on the cost of copying.
To complain about our privacy practices - If you think we may have violated your child’s privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made regarding access to your child’s PHI, you may file a complaint with us. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will take no retaliatory action against you or your child if you file a complaint about our privacy practices.
Contact for information about this notice or to complain about our privacy practices.
If you have questions about this notice, a complaint about our privacy practices or need to know how to file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Human Services, please contact the Privacy Officer at Knoxville Pediatric Associates, 2201 Clinch Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916, 865-525-0040.