THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.  PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

  How AmeriPath, Inc.® may use or disclose your Health Information.

For Treatment:  AmeriPath, Inc.® may use your health information to provide you with medical treatment or services.  For example, information obtained by a health care provider, such as a physician, nurse, or other person providing health services to you, will record information in your record that is related to your treatment.  This information is necessary for health care providers to determine what treatment you should receive.  Health care providers will also record actions take by them in the course of your treatment and note how you respond to the actions.

 

For Payment: AmeriPath, Inc.® may use and disclose your health information to others for purposes of receiving payment for treatment and services that you receive.  For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payor, such as an insurance company or health plan.  The information on the bill may contain information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and (treatment or supplies used in the course of treatment.

 

For Health Care Operations: AmeriPath, Inc.® may use and disclose health information about you for operational purposes.  For example, your health information may be disclosed to members of the medical staff, risk or quality improvement personnel, and others to:

• evaluate the performance of our staff;
• assess the quality of care and outcomes in your cases and similar cases;
• learn how to improve our facilities and services; and
• determine how to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care we provide.

Group Health Plans: A group health plan, health insurance issuer, or HMO with respect to a group health plan may disclose health information to the sponsor of the plan.

 

Required by law: AmeriPath, Inc.® may use and disclose information about you as required by law. For example, AmeriPath, Inc.® may disclose information for the following purposes:

• for judicial and administrative proceedings pursuant to legal authority;
• to report information related to victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence; and
• to assist law enforcement officials in their law enforcement duties;

Public Health: Your health information may be used or disclosed for public health activities such as assisting public health authorities or other legal authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, or for other health oversight activities.

 

Decedents: Health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable them to carry out their lawful duties.

 

Organ/Tissue Donation:> Your health information may be used or disclosed for cadaver organ, eye or tissue donation purposes.

 

Research:AmeriPath, Inc.® may use your health information for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information has approved the research.

 

Health and Safety: Your health information may be disclosed to avert a serious threat to the health or safety of you or any other person pursuant to applicable law.

 

Government Functions: Your health information may be disclosed for specialized government functions such as protection of public officials or reporting to various branches of the armed services.

 

Workers’ Compensation:Your health information may be used or disclosed in order to comply with laws and regulations related to Workers’ Compensation.

 

Other uses: Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization and you may revoke the authorization except to the extent AmeriPath, Inc.® has taken action in reliance on such.

 

  Your Health Information Rights

  You have the right to:

• request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures or your information as provided by 45 C.F.R. §164.522; however, AmeriPath, Inc. is not required to agree to a requested restriction;
• obtain a paper copy of the notice of information practices upon request;
• inspect and obtain a copy of your health record as provided for in 45 C.F.R. §164.524;
• request that your health record be amended as provided in 45 C.F.R. §164.526;
• request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations; and
• receive an accounting of disclosures made of your health information as provided by 45 C.F.R. §164.528.

 
  Complaints

You may complain to AmeriPath, Inc.® and to the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.  You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

 

  Obligations of AmeriPath, Inc.®

AmeriPath, Inc.® is required by law to:

• maintain the privacy of protected health information;
• provide you with this notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information;
• abide by the terms of this notice;
• notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction on how your information is used or disclosed;
• accommodate reasonable requests you may make to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations; and

AmeriPath, Inc. ® reserves the right to change its information practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains.  Revised notices will be made available to you by AmeriPath, Inc.® via AmeriPath website, www.ameripath.com

This notice is effective April 14, 2003

  Contact Information

If you have any questions or complaints, please contact:

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
Attention: Privacy Officer
1290 Wall St. West, Lyndhurst, N.J. 07071

 

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