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SamaritanNJ.org 55HIPAA & Patient PrivacyThis HEALTH INFORMATION PORTABILITY ACT (HIPAA) PRIVACY 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.Samaritan is required by law to protect the privacy of your health information. We are required to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices to describe our legal duties and your rights with respect to your protected health information. We are also required to abide by the terms of this Notice which is currently in effect, and to notify you in the event of a breach of your unsecured health information.The following is a summary of the circumstances under which and purposes for which your health information may be used and disclosed:To Provide Treatment. We may use and disclose your health information to coordinate care within Samaritan and with others involved in your care, such as your attending physician, members of our interdisciplinary team and other health care professionals who have agreed to assist us in coordinating care. For example, physicians involved in your care will need information about your symptoms in order to prescribe appropriate medications. When appropriate, we may share your health information with a family member, other relative, or any other person you identify if that person is involved in your care and the information is relevant to your care or the payment of your care. We also may notify your family about your location or general condition or disclose such information to an entity assisting in disaster relief efforts. You may ask us at any time not to disclose your health information to any person(s) involved in your care. We will agree to your request unless circumstances constitute an emergency or if the patient is a minor.To Obtain Payment. We may include your health information in invoices to collect payment from third parties for the care you receive from Samaritan. For example, we may be required by your health insurer to provide information regarding your health care status so that the insurer will reimburse you or Samaritan. We also may need to obtain prior approval from your insurer and may need to explain to the insurer your need for hospice care and the services that will be provided to you.To Conduct Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose health information for its own operations in order to facilitate the function of Samaritan and as necessary to provide quality care to all of our patients. Health care operations includes activities such as:%u2022 Quality assessment and improvement activities.%u2022 Activities designed to improve health or reduce health care costs.%u2022 Protocol development, case management and care coordination.%u2022 Contacting health care providers and patients with information about treatment alternatives and other related functions that do not include treatment.%u2022 Professional review and performance evaluation.%u2022 Training programs including those in which students, trainees or practitioners in health care learn under supervision.