Notice of Uses

PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Effective: October 1, 2021

Please Note: THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED OR DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

In accordance with the requirements of the health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), Golden Gate Medical Supplies is required to inform you of its practices in relation to the protected health information that it maintains about you. HIPAA mandates minimum standards that a covered entity such as Golden Gate Medical Supplies must maintain in relation to your protected health information. This Notice of Uses is being provided to help you understand how Golden Gate Medical Supplies meets these minimum standards. It is also meant to inform you of the ways that Golden Gate Medical Supplies may use the personal information it collects about you and how it may disclose it.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

When you receive care from a healthcare provider, a record of that treatment is made. This record will typically contain information on your diagnosis, treatment, and future plan of treatment and is often collectively referred to as your medical record. This medical record includes protected health information and lays the foundation for determining your plan of care and treatment; allowing for a successful means of communication between all healthcare professionals that contribute to your care.

HIPAA protects information found in your medical record from disclosure without your authorization.

The information protected by HIPAA includes:

1. Any information related to your past, present or future physical or mental health.
2. The past, present or future payment for health services you have received.
3. The specific care that you have received, are receiving or will receive.
4. Any information that identifies you as the individual receiving the care.
5. Any information that someone could use to identify you as receiving the care, which is referred to as protected health information throughout this notice.

TREATMENT, PAYMENT, AND HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS

As a Covered Entity, Golden Gate Medical Supplies is required to inform you of how it may use your protected health information. In providing treatment to you, Golden Gate Medical Supplies will use your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.

Treatment: As it pertains to Golden Gate Medical Supplies, means providing to your supplies and durable medical equipment services as ordered by your physician. Treatment also includes coordination and consultation with your physician and other health care providers. As Golden Gate Medical Supplies provides these services to you, information obtained during this process will be recorded in your medical record. Golden Gate Medical Supplies will use this information, in coordination with your physician, to determine the best course of treatment for you.

Payment: Payment purposes consist of activities required to obtain reimbursement from your insurance carrier for the services ordered by your physician and provided to you by Golden Gate Medical Supplies. This includes, but is not limited to, eligibility determination, pre-certification, billing and collection activities, obtaining documentation required by your insurer, and when applicable, disclosure of limited information to consumer reporting agencies.

Healthcare operations: Operations can include, but are not limited to, review of your protected health information by members of Golden Gate Medical Supplies professional healthcare staff to ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations. This information will then be utilized to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the services provided to you by Golden Gate Medical Supplies. Healthcare operations also include Golden Gate Medical Supplies business management and general administrative activities.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES

In order to release information contained in your medical record for purposes other than treatment, payment or healthcare operations, Golden Gate Medical Supplies must obtain a specific signed authorization form from you. You may revoke such authorization at any time, except to the extent Golden Gate Medical Supplies has taken action in reliance on the authorization. There are a limited number of other uses and disclosures of protected health information that do not require a specific authorization from you.

Golden Gate Medical Supplies may in the following circumstances disclose your protected health information:

1. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose limited health information about you to notify local agencies (i.e., power, gas, phone, and emergency medical services), in the event of an emergency (i.e., flood, hurricanes, etc.), of your need for life sustaining equipment or assistance in evacuation due to your medical condition.
2. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose to a member of your family, other relative, or a close personal friend, or any other person identified by you, the protected health information directly relevant to such person’s involvement with your care or payment related to health care.
3. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose protected health information to others as required by law.
4. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose protected health information for certain public health activities and purposes.
5. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose protected health information to a legally authorized government authority, such as a social service or protective services agency, if we reasonably believe you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
6. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose protected health information for law enforcement purposes and in response to court orders or subpoenas.
7. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose protected health information to agencies authorized by law to conduct health oversight activities, including audits, investigations, licensing, and similar activities.
8. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may disclose protected health information to attorneys, accountants, and others acting on behalf of Golden Gate Medical Supplies, provided they have signed written contracts agreeing to safeguard the confidentiality of the information.
9. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may leave messages for you on your answering machine or at an alternative phone number or contact that you have given us for that purpose.
10. Golden Gate Medical Supplies may mail marketing information, as requested by you, while you are a customer of Golden Gate Medical Supplies.