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.

USE AND DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION

MAXICARE HOME HEALTH AGENCY,INC. may use your health information for purposes of providing you treatment, obtaining payment for your care and conducting health care operations.  Your health information may be used or disclosed only after the Home health agency has obtained your written consent.  The Home health agency has established a policy to guard against unnecessary disclosure of your health information.. 

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AFTER YOU HAVE PROVIDED YOUR WRITTEN CONSENT:

To Provide Treatment.  The Home health agency may use your health information to coordinate care within the Home health agency and with others involved in your care, such as your attending physician, members of the Home health agency interdisciplinary team and other health care professionals who have agreed to assist the Home health agency in coordinating care.  For example, physicians involved in your care will need information about your symptoms in order to prescribe appropriate medications.  The Home health agency also may disclose your health care information to individuals outside of the Home health agency involved in your care including family members, clergy whom you have designated, pharmacists, suppliers of medical equipment or other health care professionals that the Home health agency uses in order to coordinate your care.

To Obtain Payment.  The Home health agency may include your health information in invoices to collect payment from third parties for the care you may receive from the Home health agency.  For example, the Home health agency may be required by your health insurer to provide information regarding your health care status so that the insurer will reimburse you or the Home health agency.  The Home health agency also may need to obtain prior approval from your insurer and may need to explain to the insurer your need for home health agency care and the services that will be provided to you.

To Conduct Health Care Operations.  The Home health agency may use and disclose health care information for its own operations in order to facilitate the function of the Home health agency and as necessary to provide quality care to all of the Home health agency's patients.  Health care operations includes such activities as: 

-          Quality assessment and improvement activities. 

-          Activities designed to improve health or reduce health care costs.

-          Protocol development, case management and care coordination.

-          Contacting health care providers and patients with information about treatment alternatives and other related functions that do not include treatment.

-          Professional review and performance evaluation.