This notice describes how your medical information will be used and disclosed by Magnified Health Systems and how you can access this information.
Effective from 2022:
This notice of privacy practices is created by Magnified Health Systems to keep you with guidance in the Privacy Act of 1974. Magnified Health Systems, a provider of clinically integrated healthcare services for substance abuse and mental health patients, is required by law to prioritize the privacy of your health records in accordance with federal and state laws.
Magnified Health Systems is authorized to collect patients’ health information and records according to section 904 of the Foreign Service Act, 22 U.S.C. § 4084. We are also levied with the duty to protect and secure your substance use disorder records following 42 U.S.C. § 290dd–2 and the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records 42 C.F.R. Part 2, otherwise known as “Part 2” in addition to HIPAA and applicable state law. This is done to encourage substance abusers to seek medical help without fearing criminal prosecution or stigmatization.
This notice of privacy practices outlines how Magnified Health Systems may use or disclose your protected health information, when it is disclosed, and to whom it is disclosed. We are required by law to provide you with a copy of this notice and inform you whenever there is a breach of this agreement. In situations where we contract other healthcare providers for healthcare services, they are also bound by this notice.
You have the right to file a complaint should this notice be breached. Feel free to send your complaint to us at [email protected]. However, note that changes can be made to this notice with time as permitted by law. When we make these changes, this notice of privacy practices will be updated, and you can find the updated version on our website: magnifiedhealth.com/.
HOW WE MAY USE OR DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
We will disclose your health information to you at any given time unless it is deemed harmful to you by a competent medical professional. Magnified Health Systems will obtain a written agreement from you authorizing us to use and disclose your medical information and records unless we are lawfully permitted to use and disclose your medical information and documents without your permission. Below is a list of cases where we are permitted under Part 2 to disclose your medical information with or without your written authorization.
TREATMENT PURPOSES
We are legally authorized to use and disclose your medical information and records during your treatment to facilitate, coordinate, and manage your healthcare needs. This can be done during the diagnosis and prescription of medications within the Magnified Health Systems premises.
We may also disclose your medical information to other medical practitioners like pharmacists, nurses, specialists, or the laboratory we contracted to carry out medical services related to you. During an emergency, we may use and disclose your medical information without first notifying you or waiting for your authorization.
WITHIN OUR FACILITIES
Everyone who is connected to your diagnosis and treatment within our facilities will have access to your medical information and may forward the information to other participants in the healthcare processes as it relates to you.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
We may disclose your health information following court orders that meet the law’s requirements. These may include the following:
- Crimes that happened at the Magnified Health Systems facility
- Medical emergencies emanating from criminal activities (not related to Magnified Health Systems)
- Situations that pertain to victims of a crime
- Requests from law enforcement agencies for the identification and location of specific individuals
- If it is believed that the disclosure of your information with eliminate or lessen an impending threat to your health
RESEARCH PURPOSES
We may disclose your medical information and records to experts researching your condition and possible treatments or recovery process. We will speak with you before disclosing any such information unless it is required by law not to.
PUBLIC HEALTH PURPOSES
We may disclose your medical information to legal public health authorities on certain conditions, including:
- Report birth/death rate
- Report the effectiveness or adversity of medications and products
- Prevent and control injury, disease, or disability
- For legal action, if we believe the patient is a victim of abuse, domestic violence, or neglect
- To notify a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease and stands a risk of spreading the disease.
DECEASED PATIENT
We may disclose protected health information relating to the death of a patient with respect to the law. This information may be disclosed to coroners, organ donations, and funeral directors.
PARENTAL ACCESS
With respect to federal and specific state laws, we may be required to disclose the protected health information of minors to their parents, guardians, or persons acting within these rights and legal statuses. We may not disclose the information to a parent or guardian when we believe that it could cause harm to the minor.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
We may disclose your medical information to personnel or company authorized by the FDA to track medications and products, enable product recalls, report adverse events, biological product deviations and defects, and make repairs and replacements to medication and products.
Other situations to note
- We will not disclose your psychotherapy notes to anyone unless it is required by law or you have given the authorization to do so.
- We will not use or disclose your medical information for marketing purposes unless you give us explicit authorization.
- We will not disclose news of your presence in our facility unless you have given authorization or in emergencies when relatives are needed to make certain decisions.
- We will not sell your health information unless authorized by you.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
We respect your rights regarding your medical information, and this section describes those rights. Note that you must email us at [email protected] to exercise those rights. We may also deny those rights in specific cases, and you are allowed to seek a review of the denial.
RIGHT TO INSPECT AND COPY
You may inspect or copy your health information at any point during the period we maintain such information. You may request to receive your medical information through electronic means and in any format you want. This may come at a fee as required by law.
You also have the right to request that your medical information be shared with anyone you have designated. However, this right does not include specific psychotherapy notes; information that can be used for a civil, criminal, or administrative action; and other health information prohibited by the law to be disclosed.
RIGHT TO REQUEST AMENDMENT
You have the right to request an amendment of your medical information as long as we still maintain this information if you have cause to believe that the information is not or is no longer accurate about you.
Note, however, that we hold the right to reject any such amendment request if it alters what our medical practitioners have diagnosed or written regarding your health during treatment. We can add your request to the information but will not change what has been reported.
RIGHT TO REQUEST CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS
We will honor your request to have your medical information sent through alternative means for the purpose of confidentiality without asking you for the reasons for your request. However, we will only honor requests that are within reason.
RIGHT TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THIS NOTICE
You have the right to request that this notice be sent to you. To get a copy of this notice, kindly email us at [email protected].
RIGHT TO REQUEST RESTRICTIONS
According to HIPAA, you have the right to request restrictions on how your medical information is shared and to whom it is transferred for treatment, health care activities, and payment. You must state which part of the information should not be used or disclosed, to whom it should not be used or disclosed, and the expiration date. Note that Magnified Health Systems is under no obligation to honor all requests. However, we will honor your request if it is mutually agreed upon.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE
We request that you provide us with a signed version of this notice to prove that you have read and agreed with the information herewith. We will send you this notice to inform you of our privacy practices. However, your decision to sign or not sign this notice will not prevent us from offering our services to you. We will go ahead and use or disclose your medical information as required by law.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions regarding this notice of privacy practices, you are welcome to email us at: [email protected] or mail us through the postal office at our head office location: 1530 N Federal Hwy, Lake Worth, FL 33460.
