HIPPA Privacy Notice

We protect the privacy of our clients here at Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC. To be guided, we strictly maintain adherence to the HIPAA Privacy Policy as described below:

Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC is committed to protecting the confidentiality of your health information. We have policies and safeguards in place to ensure your privacy. Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC is also required by state and federal laws to protect the confidentiality of your health information.

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.

The confidential health information that we collect as we deliver care or services to you is called protected health information (PHI). We may use and disclose your protected health information in the following ways:

• For treatment – To help us coordinate services among Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC personnel and with others involved in your care, such as family members, your pharmacist, suppliers of medical equipment, and your physician. We may also use your information to recommend alternative treatments or to notify you of services such as the availability of flu shots.
• For payment – To obtain payment for the care and services we provide. For example, we may be required by your insurer to provide information regarding your health so they will pay you or Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC. We may also need to obtain prior approval from your insurer and explain your need for home care and the services we will provide.
• For health care operations – Such as evaluating and improving the quality of our services, developing new guidelines for more effective care, supervising employees, evaluating performance, training staff or student nurses, determining your satisfaction with our services, conducting business planning and development, and managing administrative activities.

Your Rights Regarding Protected Health Information

You have the following rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information:

1. Request Restrictions – You can request that we restrict its use or disclosure (e.g., not sharing information with a particular family member). However, we are not required to agree to all restrictions, and we may end a restriction if we believe it puts you or your health at risk. You may also end a restriction at any time.
2. Alternative Communications – You may request that communications between you and Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC be provided in another way. For example, we can send written communication to a different address if you ask us to.
3. Inspect and Amend Records – You can request to inspect and obtain a copy of your protected health information, and you may request corrections to it.
4. Accounting of Disclosures – With limited exceptions under federal regulations, you have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information, other than those used for treatment, payment, or operations.

Complaints

If you believe your confidentiality has been violated, you may contact the Privacy Officer of Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC at 915-603-0060 or 915-999-6309 to file a complaint. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Authorizations

If anyone wishes to use or access your protected health information for reasons other than providing care, obtaining payment, or managing our operations, we can only release it with your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization at any time.

Exceptions (Disclosures Without Authorization)

Federal regulations permit us to disclose your protected health information without written authorization to:

• Public health authorities
• Government representatives responsible for responding to concerns about abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• Judicial or administrative proceedings (e.g., in response to a subpoena or discovery request)
• Law enforcement purposes
• Local or national health oversight organizations (e.g., audits or investigations)
• Funeral directors, coroners, and medical examiners
• Organ or tissue donation organizations
• Approved research projects (as reviewed by a Privacy Board)
• To avert a serious threat to health or safety
• Special government functions such as national security
• For purposes of worker’s compensation (641.512 a-1)

We may not disclose your health information if you are the subject of an investigation unless your health information is directly related to your receipt of public benefits.

Notice of Privacy Practices

This Notice is available to any individual upon request. Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice, and if changes are made, the revised Notice will apply to all protected health information in our possession.

Contact Information

If you have any concerns about this Notice or would like additional information, please contact us at:

Affinity Personal Assistance Services LLC
Phone: 915-603-0060 or 915-999-6309

Your privacy is one of our most important promises to you.