Notice of Privacy Practices

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

Keystone is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices. Keystone must abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect, but Keystone reserves the right to change the terms. If there is a change, Keystone will provide you with a written, revised notice as soon as practicable by mail or hand delivery.

As a patient of Keystone, information about you must be used and disclosed to other parties for purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations. These uses and disclosure include, but are not limited to, a release of information contained in financial records and/or medical records, including information concerning communicable diseases such as Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), drug/alcohol abuse, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment records and/or laboratory test results, medical history, treatment progress and/or any other related information to: 

1. Your insurance company, self-funded or third-party health plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other person or entity that may be responsible for paying or processing for payment any portion of your bill for services;
2. Any person or entity affiliated with or representing Keystone for purposes of administration, billing, and quality and risk management;
3. Any hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility to which you may be admitted;
4. Any assisted living or personal care facility of which you are a resident;
5. Any physician providing you care;
6. Family members and other caregivers who are part of your home care plan for service;
7. Licensing and accrediting bodies, including the information contained in the OASIS Data /Set to the state agency acting as a representative of the Medicare/Medicaid program;
8. Contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about other health activities we provide;
9. Other Health care providers to initiate treatment.

Keystone is permitted to use or disclose information about you without consent or authorization in the following circumstances:

1. In emergency treatment situations, if Keystone attempts to obtain consent as soon as practicable after treatment;
2. When substantial barriers to communicating with you exist and Keystone determines that the consent is clearly implied from the circumstances;
3. When Keystone is required by law to provide treatment and we are unable to obtain consent;
4. When the use or disclosure is required by law;
5. For certain public health activities;
6. When Keystone reasonably believes you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, it will disclose said information to a government agency authorized to investigate complaints concerning abuse, neglect or domestic violence;
7. Healthcare oversight activities;
8. Certain judicial administrative proceedings;
9. Certain law enforcement purposes;
10. To coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors, in certain circumstances;
11. For cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation purposes;
12. For certain research purposes;
13. To avert a serious threat to health and safety;
14. For specialized government functions, including military and veterans’ activities, national security and intelligence activities, protective services for the President and other, medical suitability determinations, correctional institution and custodial situation
15. For workers compensation purposes.

Keystone is permitted to use or disclose information about you without consent or authorization provided you are informed in advance and given the opportunity to agree to or prohibit or restrict the disclosure in the following circumstances:

1.      The use of a directory of individuals served by Keystone;

2.   To a family member, relative, friend, or  other identified person, the information relevant to such persons involvement in your care or payment of care.

Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization.  That authorization may be revoked, in writing, at the address provided below, at any time, except in limited situations.

 

Keystone Home Health & Hospice

8765 Stenton Avenue

Wyndmoor, PA 19038

YOUR RIGHTS        

You have the right, subject to certain conditions, to:

1. Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of  information about you.  However, Keystone is not required to agree to the requested restriction;

2. Receive confidential communication of protected health information;
3. Inspect and copy protected health information;
4. Amend protected health information;
5. Receive an accounting of disclosures;
6. Obtain a paper copy of this notice, if you had agreed to receive this notice electronically.

COMPLAINTS

You may complain to Keystone and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated. There will be no retaliation against you for filing a complaint.  The complaint should be filed in writing with Keystone and should state the specific incident(s) in terms of subject, date, and other relevant matters.  A complaint to the Secretary must comply with the standards set out in 45 CFR S.160.306.

For further information regarding filing a complaint with Keystone read your Keystone booklet on "How to File a Complaint" or write the Privacy Officer at the address listed above.