NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES (NPP)
Purpose: To provide that patients and other interested persons have a defined opportunity to receive adequate notice of 1) the uses and disclosures of protected health information ("PHI") that may be made by the provider; 2) patient rights concerning PHI; and 3) the provider's legal duties pertaining to PHI.
Policy:
- 1. Reasonable effort will be made to provide patients or their legally authorized representative the current Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) on the date of the first service delivery on or after the April 14, 2003, compliance date. An exception exists where the first service delivery involves emergency medical treatment; in such cases, the NPP will be provided as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so.
- 2. A current NPP will be posted in a prominent location where it is reasonable to expect that patients will see and have an opportunity to read the document. At any time, a patient or the patient's legally authorized representative may request and receive a copy of the current NPP.
- 3. The Notice of Information Practices required by Washington State law will be placed in a conspicuous place or provided to the patient in another notice. The Acknowledgement of Receipt of the NPP may contain this required Notice of Information Practices.
- 4. The NPP will describe actual privacy practices and examples of all uses and disclosures of PHI. Any change to actual privacy practices will be reflected in the NPP. Subsequent to any revision, a copy of the "old" NPP will be retained for 6 years from the date it was last effective.
- 5. Any person, not only a patient, having questions about the NPP, or privacy/confidentiality practices, will be directed to the Privacy Officer for further information if necessary.
- 6. Any member of the general public (who is not a patient or a patient's legally authorized representative) requesting the NPP will be provided the current NPP as promptly as circumstances permit. The documentation requirements do not apply.
- 7. All patients shall sign a NPP acknowledgment and it will be placed in the medical records.
- 8. The physician assistant shall document in the patient's medical record that a copy of the NPP was delivered at the time of the patient's first visit on or after the compliance date and the patient refused to sign the acknowledgment.
- 9. A copy of the notice will be distributed to the patient without any express or implied request to return it. A "recycle" basket with a sign stating, "You have a right to keep the notice of privacy practices. If you do not wish to keep it, please place it in this basket" will be placed in each doctor's area.
Primary Responsible Party:
Privacy Officer and Admitting/Front Office Staff
Other Responsible Party:
All staff should have general knowledge and be able to direct questions/concerns appropriately.
Procedure:
- 1. Patients or their legally authorized representative will be provided the current Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) no later than the date of the first service delivery, falling on or after the April 14, 2003, Privacy Rule compliance date.
- 2. Copies of the current NPP will be maintained and available to give to any patient, legally authorized representative, or other person, so requesting.
- 3. The NPP will be revised any time there are material changes to the uses and disclosures of PHI, patient rights, provider duties, or other privacy practices referenced in the original NPP.
- 4. Patients receiving the NPP who have questions or desire further information will be directed to the practice/health care facility Privacy Officer, as necessary. Every effort should be made to help interested patients understand the information contained in the NPP.
Policies and Procedures Specific to Electronic Notices of Privacy Practices and/or Electronic Service Delivery:
- 1. The current NPP is prominently posted on the Web site, www.spokaneeye.com, and made readily available electronically through our Web site.
- 2. The current NPP may be provided by e-mail if the patient or individual agrees.
- 3. If the first service is delivered electronically, the patient will be provided the current NPP automatically and contemporaneously in response to the first request for service.