This notice describes the privacy practices of Livingston Hospice Associates, herein referred to as “Livingston Hospice “ and the physicians on our staff while practicing at Livingston Hospice. Your personal physician may have different policies or notices regarding that physician’s use and disclosure of your health information created or received in his / her office or clinic. Livingston Hospice and our medical staff will share protected health information with each other, as necessary to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations in compliance with applicable law. This notice describes how we may use and disclose your health information. The policies outlined in this Notice apply to all of your health information generated or received by us which includes, but is not limited to, symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment, payment, billing, insurance and related medical information.

In some circumstances we are required or permitted to use / disclose your health information without obtaining your prior authorization. The circumstances include:

1. Use / disclosures for purposes relating to treatment, payment and health care operations.
   
   1. Treatment – We may use and / or disclose your health information for the purpose of allowing others to provide, treatment to you. An example would be if your physician discloses your health information to another doctor for purposes of consultation.
   2. Payment – We may use and / or disclose your health information for the purpose of allowing others, to secure payment for the health care services provided to you. For example, we may inform your health insurance company of your diagnosis and treatment in order to assist them in processing a claim for payment for health care services provided to you.
   3. Health Care Operations. We may use and / or disclose your information for the purposes of our day-to-day operations and functions including, but not limited to, proper administration of records, evaluation of the quality of treatment and to assess the care and outcomes of your case.
2. Requirements under the law;
3. Public health activities;
4. Disclosure of information about victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
5. Health oversight activities authorized by law, such as audits, civil, administrative or criminal investigations;
6. Judicial or administrative proceedings;
7. Law enforcement activities;
8. Assistance to coroners, medical examiners or funeral directors with their official duties;
9. Assistance with organ, eye or tissue donations;
10. Certain research projects that have been evaluated and approved through a research approval process that takes into account patient’s need for privacy;
11. Activities to avert a serious threat to health or safety;
12. Specialized governmental functions, such as military, nation security, criminal corrections, or public benefit purposes;
13. Workers’ Compensation activities, as permitted by law.
14. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment: Unless you object, we may release health information about you to a friend or family member who is identified as being directly involved in your medical care. We may also give relevant information to someone who helps pay for your care. We may use and disclose your health information for the purpose of location and notifying your relatives or close personal friends of your location and general condition. In addition, we may disclose health information about you to an entity assisting in a disaster relief effort so that your family can be notified about your condition, status and location.
15. Fundraising: We may use limited information to contact you in an effort to raise money for Livingston Hospice and its operations. You may request not to be contacted for fundraising activities by submitting a written request to the Administrator at 9788 Florida Blvd. Ste B Walker, LA 70785.
16. We may contact you with appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
17. Except as described above, other disclosures of your health information may be made only with your authorization. You may revoke any such authorization, in writing, at any time.

1. You have the right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your health information, payment or health care operations purposes. You also have the right to request restrictions on the disclosure of your health information to individuals involved in your care or payment of your care. However, we may not be able to honor your request and are not required to do so. If we do agree to a restriction, we will abide by that restriction; submit a written request to the Administrator at 9788 Florida Blvd. Ste B Walker, LA 70785.
2. You have the right to have your reasonable requests for confidential communications about your own health information honored by the hospice. This means that you may, for example, designate that we bill you at work rather than home. To request communications by other means or locations, you must submit a written request to the Administrator at 9788 Florida Blvd. Ste B Walker, LA 70785. Reasonable requests will be granted.
3. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of health information that may be used to make decisions about your care. Usually, this includes medical and billing records. To access and obtain a copy of your medical records or billing records, contact the Administrator at 9788 Florida Blvd. Ste B Walker, LA 70785. If you request a copy of your medical record, you will be charged the standard fee set by law for copying and mailing the requested information. We may deny your request to access and copy certain limited circumstances. We will designate a licensed health care professional not involved in the original decision to review your request and the denial. We will comply with outcome of the review.
4. If you feel that health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment as long as the information is kept by Livingston Hospice. Requests to amend health information must be submitted in writing to the Administrator at 9788 Florida Blvd. Ste B Walker, LA 70785. We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:
5. Was not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment.
6. Is not part of the health information kept by or for Livingston Hospice;
7. Is not part of the information which you would permitted to inspect or copy, or
8. Is accurate and complete
9. 5. You have the right to an account of disclosures of your health information. Records of disclosures are maintained for six years, starting July 2nd, 2007. However, the following disclosures will not be accounted for:
10. Livingston Hospice does not disclose an individual’s entire medical record in fulfillment of any request not related to treatment for any reason unless justification for such disclosure is documented.
11. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice.
12. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy responsibilities.
13. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make those changes applicable to all health information that we maintain. Any changes to this Notice will be posted at our facilities and will be available upon request.
14. You may complain to us and / or the Secretary of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. To lodge a complaint with us, please file a written complaint with the Administrator at 9788 Florida Blvd. Ste B Walker, LA 70785. No action will be taken against you for filling a complaint.