Information that relates to your services and that identifies you is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. This protection covers both written and electronic information and applies to both children and adults receiving services from accessAbilities.

Your Rights:

• You have the right to know how your information will be used, and with whom the information will be shared.
• You have the right to request that accessAbilities not share your information or to revoke any authorization you have previously made to the extent that it has not been acted upon. 
• You have the right to inspect and copy your records, upon written request and payment of reasonable per page copying fees. 
• You have a right to request amendments be made to your records.
• You have a right to know who has seen your information for most purposes other than for treatment, payment or operations. 
• You have a right to request communication of your information by alternative means or at an alternative address.

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How accessAbilities, Inc. Uses and Discloses Your Information:

• accessAbilities provides services through a variety of programs.  If you receive services from an accessAbilities program, accessAbilities may use your information and disclose it to others to plan and provide your services, to administer accessAbilities programs, to communicate with other professionals who provide services to you, and to describe the services you receive.  We have established business practices to protect the privacy of your information with others who have contracts with accessAbilities. 
• accessAbilities may use your information to obtain reimbursement and to verify that services billed were actually provided.
• Your information may be shared with accessAbilities’funders (such as Medical Assistance Office, PA Department of Public Welfare) or government agencies (such as Office of Developmental Programs, Office of Long Term Living, Children and Youth Services, Office of Aging) that provide administration and oversight of programs, services, and public safety or health.
• accessAbilities may use your information to assess and improve the services provided and the outcomes achieved, and to educate health professionals. 
• accessAbilities may disclose information to researchers when the information has been de-identified or to researchers who have been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure privacy.
• Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, accessAbilities may disclose to the institution or their agents information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals, or for the administration of the institution.
• accessAbilities may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes, as required under law or in response to subpoenas or court orders.
• accessAbilities may also contact you to inform you about other programs and services or for accessAbilities’ fundraising activities.

   accessAbilities  will not use or disclose your information except as described in this notice or otherwise required by law, unless we receive your written authorization.

accessAbilities, Inc. Duties:

• accessAbilities has a duty to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and abide by the terms of this notice.
• accessAbilities will provide you with a notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you.  If we change our privacy practices, we will provide a revised notice to you.
• accessAbilities will notify you if we are unable to agree with a requested restriction.
• accessAbilities will accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate information by alternative means or to an alternative address.
• accessAbilities will provide you with an accounting of disclosures of your information upon your written request.

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For More Information or to Report a Problem:

If you have questions or would like additional information, you may contact accessAbilities’ Privacy Officer at (724) 832-8272. 

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the accessAbilities Privacy Officer at (724) 832-8272 or with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services at (800) 368-1019.  There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

Notice of Privacy Practices – effective October 2007

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