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.

Uses and Disclosures of your Health Information

Pregnancy Care Clinic may use or disclose health information to carry out healthcare operations.

· We may use and disclose your information for ongoing treatment or care with a third party that is a recognized HIPAA compliant healthcare provider. We may disclose in cases of emergency. All other third party requests, we will get your written consent prior to making disclosures outside PCC .

· Healthcare operations include the activities necessary for PCC to run its business operations. For example, we may use your information to review treatment, consult, and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff.

We may use or disclose your health information:

· When required by federal, state or local law.

· To support public health activities by reporting as required or authorized by state or federal law. These reports may include the reporting of exposure to a communicable disease or risk of spreading a disease or condition.

· To cooperate with law enforcement officials for certain law enforcement purposes as directed by a court order, warrant, subpoena or other lawful process.

· To report abuse or neglect

· To support health oversight activities that are authorized by law, such as administrative or criminal investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions and other similar activities necessary for appropriate oversight of government benefit programs or functions.

· When required by a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death or other duties as required by law.

· When necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of a person or the public and the disclosure is to a person reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, as consistent with applicable law and standards.

· For judicial or administrative proceedings, in response to a valid court order, administrative order, a grand jury subpoena or with written consent.

· For research purposes to generate statistics, meta data, or to improve healthcare knowledge/industry. Your information will not be disclosed outside PCC or affiliated organizations without written consent.

· For marketing purposes to provide appointment reminders or information about additional services, health information and other services that may be of interest to you. PCC may also use your information without disclosing your identity or specifics of your case for fundraising and marketing.

· To business affiliates for continuity of care, if they are recognized HIPAA compliant providers, or we receive a request for records signed by you.

· To a family member, other relatives, or a close friend or any other person you identify if the information relates to that person’s involvement in your healthcare if you consent to such a disclosure.

· In other situations, your written authorization will be obtained before PCC will use or disclose your health information to third parties outside PCC.

State and federal laws may be more stringent and may prohibit certain uses and disclosures identified above. When another law is more stringent than the Health Insurance Portability and Accountibility Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), we will follow the more stringent requirements.

Patient Rights

You may request PCC restrict uses and disclosures of your health information. However, PCC is not required to agree to the requested restriction. These requests must be made in writing to Pregnancy Care Clinic, Privacy Officer at the address on the back.

You have the right to request confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations. For example, you may request that we only communicate with you via mail. We will accommodate all reasonable requests, but your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.

You have a right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information that is used to make decisions about your care for as long as PCC maintains the information. This right does not apply to certain information not subject to access information under State and HIPPA laws. Requests for access to health information should be made in writing to PCC privacy officer. If access is denied, you will be provided a written explanation that sets forth the basis for the denial, a description of how you may review those rights and a description of how you may file a complaint.

You have the right to request that PCC amend your health information if it is incorrect or incomplete. Requests for amendment of information should be made in writing to PCC Privacy Officer, and you must provide a reason that supports your request. PCC may deny your request for an amendment if the request is not in writing. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that: (a) was not created or is no longer available; (b) is not part of the medical information kept by PCC; (c)is not part of the information you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or (d) is accurate and complete.

At your request, PCC will provide you with an accounting of disclosures by PCC of your health information provided the records are still available. Requests for an accounting of disclosures should be made in writing to PCC, Privacy Officer at the address on the back of this brochure.

This notice is available at a conspicuous location within PCC.

You may exercise your rights through a personal representative as permitted or required by law. Your personal representative may be required to produce evidence of authority to act on your behalf before that person will be given access to your information or allowed to take any action for you.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated you may make a complaint to the PCC, Privacy Officer. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

PCC will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Pregnancy Care Clinic Duties

This notice is effective beginning March 13, 2015. However, PCC reserves the right to change its privacy practices and this notice, and to apply the changes to any health information received or maintained by PCC prior to the date of the changes. If the terms of this notice are changed, a revised version will be available upon request and will be posted in a clear and prominent location.

Complaints, Questions and Requests

Pregnancy Care Clinic
Attn: Privacy Officer
677 S. Magnolia Ave.
El Cajon, CA 92020

You may also direct complaints regarding this Notice or Pregnancy Care Clinic’s privacy practices, requests regarding your information, or other privacy or confidentiality concerns to the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.