Privacy Policy

Your health information is personal, and Roots Integrative Medicine is committed to protecting it in accordance with HIPAA.

We are required by law to:

Keep your health information private, except as that information is required or permitted to be disclosed by law.
Give you notice of our privacy practices and legal responsibilities when it comes to the health information we collect.
Abide by the current terms of our privacy policy.

When We Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We will not disclose your information without your written authorization, except as permitted or required by law and described in this policy. We limit disclosures and requests to only the data needed as much as possible, removing identifiers like name and address to the extent that it is practicable.

Treatment

We may use or disclose your health information for the coordination, provision and management of your treatment. For example, we may disclose your health information to other medical providers who are caring for you.

Payment

We may use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment for the services you receive from us. For example, we may disclose health information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and treatment services to your insurance company to process payments.

Health Care Operations

We may use or disclose your health information for our health care operations, such as during quality of care reviews.

Organized Health Care Arrangements

We may disclose your health information while organizing your care with another provider within the Lexington Medical Center District. For example, we may need to disclose information to an outpatient facility to coordinate your care.

Business Associates

We may disclose your health information to our business associates who act on our behalf or provide us with services if that information is necessary. For example, if we use another company to do our billing or provide consulting services, they may need certain pieces of health information. All of our associates are obligated to protect your health information and privacy.

As Required By Law

We will disclose your health information if required to do so by federal, state or local law. For example, certain laws require the reporting certain wounds and other injuries.

Workers' Compensation

We may disclose your health information for legal programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses, such as workers' compensation.

Law Enforcement

We may disclose your health information for law enforcement purposes, such as an official request to identify or locate a missing person.

Lawsuits and Disputes

We may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order, such as a subpoena, discovery request or similar. We will only release this information if efforts have been made to notify you first or to obtain an order protecting the requested information.

For Public Safety or Health Purposes

We may use and disclose your health information for issues related to your health or the health of others: 1) If we need to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety, or that of others, such as preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability. 2) If we need to report the abuse or neglect of children, elders, dependent adults or others. 3) If we need to notify a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may be at risk of contracting or spending the disease. 4) If we need to help ensure product safety and effectiveness if you are subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration.

Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose your information to a health oversight agency to cooperate with legal activities necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, such as audits, investigations, inspections and licensure.

Friends and Family Involved in Your Care & Emergencies

We may share your health information with a family member or another person involved with your care if you need emergency treatment and we are unable to obtain your consent.

Appointment Reminders and Alternative Treatments

We may use your health information for appointment reminders, recommendations for alternative treatment or other health-related benefits and services you may be interested in.

Specialized Government Functions

We may disclose your health information for government purposes, including military and veterans activities, national security and intelligence activities, protective service of the President and other officials, medical suitability for Department of State officials, correctional institutions and law enforcement custodial situations or the provision of public benefits.

Personal Representative

If you have a personal representative, such as a legal guardian or executor of your estate after your death), we will treat that person as if they are you with respect to disclosing your health information.

Coroners and Funeral Directors

We may disclose health information to a coroner, medical examiner or funeral director to identify a deceased person, determine cause of death or permit them to fulfill their professional and legal responsibilities.

Organ or Tissue Donation

We may disclose your health information to an organ procurement organization or to otherwise procure, bank, or transplant cadaveric organs.

Research

We may use or disclose your health information for research if approved by an institutional review or privacy board and appropriate steps have been taken to protect that information.

Disaster Relief

We may disclose your health information to disaster relief organizations in the event of a disaster.

When We Are Prohibited From Using Your Personal Health Information

Your authorization is required to use or disclose certain health information, unless permitted by law.

Most psychotherapy notes.
Marketing purposes.
Selling your personal information.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have rights when it comes to the health information we collect.

Right to Revoke Authorizations

You may revoke your authorization to disclose health information in writing at any time, and we will stop any further use or disclosure of your information for the purposes covered by your written authorization, except if we have already acted in reliance on your permission. Revocation will not impact any uses or disclosures that occurred while authorization was in effect.

Right to Request Restrictions

You can request to restrict or limit the health information we use or disclose for treatment, payment or health care operations. We are not generally required to agree to your request, except where it is for a restriction on disclosures to a health plan for services you pay out-of-pocket in full. In that case, we may be required to agree to your request if certain other conditions are met. If we do agree to your request, we will comply unless the information is needed for emergency treatment.

Right to Confidential Communications

You can request that we communicate with you about health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at home or by mail. Your request must specify how or where to you wish to be contacted.

Right to Inspect and Copy

You can inspect and copy your health information. We may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other items associated with your request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy your information in certain limited circumstances. If you are denied access to your information, you will receive a written denial and information about how the denial may be reviewed.

Right to an Electronic Copy of Your Electronic Medical Record

If your health information is maintained in electronic form, you can request that a copy of your record be given to you or transmitted another individual or entity, in electronic form or another format of your choosing. If we are unable to readily produce the copy in the format requested, an alternative and agreed upon readable electronic copy may be provided instead. We may charge a cost-based fee for a copy of your electronic health record.

Right to Request Amendment

You can request corrections or amendments to your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. You must include the reason(s) for your request. You will be notified in writing if your request is denied, at which point you can submit a written statement disagreeing with that denial.

Right to Receive Notice Electronically or Obtain a Paper Copy

You may download an electronic copy of this document, or print a paper copy. You may also ask us to give you a copy of this policy any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this document electronically, you are still entitled to request a paper copy.

Right to Notification in Event of a Breach

You have the right to receive notification if there is a breach of your health information. After discovering a breach, we must provide notice to you without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 calendar days, unless a law enforcement official requires us to delay the breach notification.

Report a Problem

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a formal complaint with us by contact the Privacy Officer at (803) 266-9920 and/or the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change the terms of this privacy policy. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed notice effective for health information we already have about you, as well, as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current notice.

Other Uses or Disclosures of Your Health Information

Other uses and disclosures of health information not covered by this notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your prior written authorization.

Who to Contact

Unless noted otherwise, ask questions of and submit requests in writing to:

Attn: Privacy Officer
4711 Forest Drive Ste 9, Columbia SC 29206
(803) 266-9920