Your Rights
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
You have the following rights regarding medical information we maintain about you:
- Right to Inspect and Copy: You may inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI that is contained in a designated record set for as long as we maintain this record. A "designated record set" contains medical and billing records and any other records that BHS uses for making decision about you. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records; (1) psychotherapy notes; (2) information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, and (3) PHI that is subject to law that prohibits access to PHI. In some circumstances, you may have a right to have a denial reviewed. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request.
- Right to Amend: You may request an amendment of your PHI in a designated record set created by BHS for as long as we maintain this record. In certain cases, we may deny your request for an amendment. If we deny your request, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.
- Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: This right applies to disclosures that may have occurred for purposes other than treatment, payment or health care operations as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. The right to an accounting does not include disclosures we may have made to you, for a hospital directory, to family members or friends involved in your care, or for notification purposes. You have the right to receive specific information regarding these disclosures that occurred after April 14, 2003. The right to receive this information is subject to certain expectations, restrictions and limitations. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.
- Right to Request Restrictions: You may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your PHI for the purposes of treatment, payment or health care operations. You may also request that any part of your PHI not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. BHS is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request. If we believe it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of you PHI or if restriction would interfere with treatment, payment or healthcare operations, your PHI will not be restricted. If BHS does agree to the requested restriction, we may not use or disclose your PHI in violation of that restriction unless it is needed to provide emergency treatment. Your request must state the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply, for example, disclosures to your spouse.
- Right to Request Confidential Communications: You may request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. We will accommodate reasonable requests. We may also condition this accommodation by asking you for information as to how payment will be handled or specification of an alternative identity or address or other method of contact. We will not request an explanation from you as to the basis for the request.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time. You may also obtain a copy of this notice in PDF format by clicking here: BHS HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Please contact our Privacy Officer with any questions regarding any of your rights.
