This notice describes how WeeCare Therapy Services may use or disclose your protected health information (“PHI”). It also describes our legal obligations to you and your rights to access your PHI. PHI is individually identifiable health information, including actual medical information, your name, address, phone number, identification number, insurance information or other identifiers. Please review this notice carefully.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandates that clients be provided with advance written notice of the practice’s policies regarding the use and/or disclosure of protected health information, whether communicated electronically, on paper or in oral conversations. This notice took effect on April 14, 2003.

WeeCare Therapy Services reserves the right to decline a client who elects not to sign this notice and reserves the right to change and to make any new provisions effective under HIPAA Privacy Regulations. This notice explains the rights of the client and policies followed and implemented by the WeeCare Therapy Services in accordance with HIPAA and other governing organizations for all non-exempt uses of medical records with no expiration. A client’s health care information may be used and/or disclosed for treatment, payment, administrative or healthcare operation activities.

Treatment – We may use PHI to provide you with medical treatment or services. This includes communications between other healthcare professionals, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and other providers for administering treatment.

Payment – We may use and/or disclose your PHI so the treatment and services you receive may be billed to and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. This includes typical payment activities, such as verification of coverage, pre-certifications, referrals and claims processing. Please see your plan documents for a full explanation of your insurance benefits.

Administrative or Healthcare Operation Activities – We may use and/or disclose medical information about you for certain administrative, healthcare and management activities, such as compliance monitoring, quality improvement and business planning. These uses and/or disclosures are necessary to run the practice and to ensure that our clients receive quality care and services. We contract with individuals and entities (business associates) to perform various functions on our behalf which involve the use and/or disclosure of your PHI. These business associates must agree in writing to appropriately protect your PHI.

We may use or disclose PHI for other important activities permitted or required by law, with or without your authorization.  These include:

• Appointment Reminders and Treatment Alternatives. We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits or services that may be of interest.
• Public Health and Safety. We may use or disclose PHI as necessary to prevent or reduce a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public, to people who may be able to reduce the threat, including the threatened person or law enforcement officials; or for other public health activities to public health authorities (such as the Texas Department of Community Health or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) engaged in preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. PHI also may be disclosed to certain people exposed to communicable diseases and to employers in connection with occupational health and safety or worker’s compensation matters.
• Required by Law. We may use or disclose PHI to the extent such use or disclosure is required by law and it complies with and is limited to the requirements of that law. If we suspect a person is a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, we may be required to file a report to CPS or another local or state agency and possibly to the police as well. We also use and disclose PHI for certain law enforcement purposes and in response to official subpoenas, court orders, discovery requests and other legal process.  In addition, we use and disclose PHI in connection with health oversight activities (e.g., government audits of our compliance with certain laws and regulations; oversight of government-funded health benefits programs, etc.). 
• Other Government Functions. We may use or disclose PHI in connection with military and veterans activities, national security and intelligence activities, protective services for the President of the United States and other dignitaries, and certain correctional facility activities. 
• Family and Friends. Under certain circumstances, we may disclose PHI to family members, other relatives, or close personal friends or others that you identify to the extent it is directly relevant to their involvement with your care or payment related to your care; or to notify them of your location, general condition, or death. 
• After Death. We may disclose PHI to coroners or medical examiners to identify a person who has died, determine the cause of death, or perform other functions authorized by law; and (before or after death) to funeral homes as necessary to carry out their duties. In addition, PHI of a person who has died may be used or disclosed in connection with research that does not involve any live subjects

The client/ family reserves the right to request restrictions on the policies listed in this notice, receive a copy of all information used and/or disclosed, access, inspect and amend his or her own records, with limited exceptions, by submitting a written request to the WeeCare Therapy Services. We may deny your request to inspect and copy your PHI as set forth in the HIPAA Privacy Regulations. Written requests for the clients own PHI will only be honored with a photo proof of identification from the client/family.


WeeCare Therapy Services reserves the right to contact clients for appointment reminders or to transmit relevant information about other health or administrative services that may be necessary. This may require us to leave a message, which other individuals may have access to. By signing this release you also authorize the WeeCare Therapy Services to mail to you appointment reminders, information about newly released technology, copies of evaluations and goals, or other pertinent information from the organization.

All written requests or complaints may be submitted to the Privacy Officer of the WeeCare Therapy Services and/or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights with respect to our protection of your PHI has been violated. Call 281. 417.2783 or mail to 14511 Lakeside Terrace Houston, TX 77044. Please include all names, dates, relative and detailed information in the complaint. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can either file a complaint with WeeCare Therapy Service Privacy Officer or with the Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Health and Human Services (OCR). There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint with either the WeeCare Therapy Service Privacy Officer or the OCR. The address for the OCR is as follows:

Office for Civil Rights
Us Department of Health and Human Services
220 Independence Avenue, S. W.
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, DC 20201
 
Disclaimer:

This site is provided for informational purposes only.  The information here is not intended to diagnose and treat any condition, and should not replace the care and attention of your pediatrician.  Use the information on these pages at your own risk, and as with any information pertaining to health, nutrition, mental healt, or fitness, consult your physician before making any changes that might affect your overall health.