WINHEALTH PARTNERS’ PRIVACY NOTICE

 

 

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.

 

 

At WINhealth Partners, our policy is to protect the privacy of your protected health information.  WINhealth Partners is also required to give you this notice to tell you how WINhealth Partners may use and give out (“disclose”) your protected health information held by WINhealth Partners.

 

 

How WINhealth Partners May Use or Disclose Your Protected Health Information:

 

  • To the Individual – WINhealth Partners may disclose protected health information to the individual who is the subject of the information.
  • Treatment – WINhealth Partners may use your protected health information to cover treatment.  We may discuss your protected health information with others who may assist in your care, such as your physician, the facility at which you are receiving treatment, or a family member, such as spouse, parent or child who has responsibility for your care or may be considered your personal representative. 

Example:  You are in the hospital.  Our Care Management Team may discuss your protected health information with the hospital and other healthcare entities involved in your care.

  • Payment – WINhealth Partners may use and disclose your protected health information in order to pay for services and items you may receive.  We may also use and disclose your identifiable health information to obtain payment from third parties that may be responsible for such costs, such as primary payers.

Example:  Your physician has submitted a claim.  We may request medical records to determine if your benefits will cover or pay for the treatment.

  • Healthcare Operations - WINhealth Partners may use and disclose your protected health information to operate our business.

Example:  Conducting or arranging for case management, medical review, legal and auditing services and general administrative activities.

  • Government Healthcare Oversight Activities;
  • Where required by law;
  • For research studies that meet all privacy law requirements;
  • To avoid a serious imminent threat to health or safety; personal or public.

 

 

Authorization:

 

WINhealth Partners will obtain your written permission (an “authorization”) to use or give out (“disclose”) your protected health information for any purpose that is not set out in this notice.  You may take back (“revoke”) your written permission at any time, except if we have already acted based on your permission.

 

You have the right to:

 

  • See and get a copy of your protected health information held by WINhealth Partners. 
  • Amend any of your protected health information created by WINhealth Partners if you believe that it is wrong or if you believe that information is missing, and we agree.  If we disagree, you may have a statement of your disagreement added to your protected health information.
  • Get a listing of those who have received your protected health information from WINhealth Partners for any disclosure made after April 14, 2003 not to exceed 6 years.  The listing will not include protected health information that was given to you or to your personal representative, any protected health information that you or your personal representative authorized WINhealth Partners to release, or that was disclosed for law enforcement purposes, a disputed claim, or to pay for your healthcare.
  • Request that WINhealth Partners communicate with you in a different manner or at a different place.

Example:  By sending materials to a P.O. Box instead of your home address.

  • Request WINhealth Partners limit how your protected health information is used and given out.  However, we may not be able to agree to your request if the information is used to conduct business in the manner described in Uses and Disclosures.
  • Get a paper copy of this notice upon request.

 

 

WINhealth Partners:

 

  • Is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information;
  • Is required to abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect; and
  • Reserves the right to change the terms of our notice and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain.  A revised notice will be mailed to you within 60 days of any material revision.

 

Complaints:

 

You may make a complaint with WINhealth Partners and/or to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.  There will be no retaliation of any kind against any person making a complaint.  Complaints may be made in writing or electronically to the addresses below.

 

WINhealth Partners Compliance Officer

P.O. Box 652

Cheyenne, WY  82003

Phone:  (307) 773-1300

Toll Free:  (800) 868-7670

Fax:  (307) 638-7701

 

complianceofficer@winhealthpartners.org

 

 

Region VIII

Office for Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

1961 Stout Street Room 1426

Denver, CO 80294

Phone: (303) 844-2024; (303) 844-3439 TDD

Fax: (303) 844-2025

 

 

Effective Date of this Notice:   April 14, 2003, rev. July 12, 2007