Sleep HealthCenters^® LLC
Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective April 2003

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

Patient Privacy Sleep HealthCenters takes your privacy seriously.  We want to tell you about our privacy practices to protect your personal health information.   How do we use health information? Sleep HealthCenters uses your health information to treat you, to obtain payment for services, and to conduct normal business known as healthcare operations. Examples of how we use your information include: Treatment – We keep a record of each visit.  This record may include an initial evaluation, treatment plan, and notes. Payment – We document the services you receive at each visit so that you, your insurance company or another third party can pay us.  We may also tell your health plan about upcoming services that require their prior approval. Health Care Operations – Health information is used to improve the services we provide, to train staff and students, for business management, for quality improvement, and for customer service.   We comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including any laws that impact our ability to use your health information for treatment, payment and operations.   Other Services We may also use information to: ·   Recommend treatment alternatives ·   Tell you about benefits and services ·   Communicate with family or friends involved in your care ·   Communicate with other healthcare providers or business associates for treatment, payment or health care operations.  Business associates must follow our privacy rules. ·   Send appointment reminders. You may tell the scheduler that you do not wish to have an appointment reminder.*

Information we share There are limited times when we are permitted or required to disclose health information without your signed permission.  These situations are listed below: ·   For public health activities such as tracking diseases or medical devices ·   To protect victims of abuse or neglect for federal and state health oversight activities such as fraud investigations ·   For judicial or administrative proceedings ·   If required by law or for law enforcement ·   To coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors ·   For organ donation ·   To avert serious threat to public health or safety ·   For specialized government functions such as national security and intelligence ·   To Workers’ Compensation if you are injured at work ·   To a correctional institution if you are an inmate ·   For research following strict internal review to ensure protection of information.   All other uses and disclosures, not previously described, may only be made with your signed authorization.  You may revoke your authorization at any time.   Our Responsibilities Sleep HealthCenters is required by law to: ·   Maintain the privacy of your health information ·   Provide this notice of our duties and privacy practices ·   Abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect.   We reserve the right to change privacy practices, and make the new practices effective for all the information we maintain.  Revised notices will be available to you.

Your Rights You have the right to: ·   Request that we restrict how we use or disclose your health information.  We may not be able to comply with all requests. ·   Request that we use a specific telephone number or address to communicate with you ·   Inspect and copy your health information (fees may apply)* ·   Request additions or corrections to your health information* ·   Receive an accounting of how your health information was disclosed (excludes disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, some required disclosures, as well as disclosures that you authorize)* ·   Obtain a paper copy of this notice even if you receive it electronically.   Requests followed by a star(*) must be in writing.   To Contact Us  If you would like to exercise your rights, or if you feel your privacy rights have been violated, or if you need more information, contact Darcee Burnett, Manager of Patient Care Coordination, at 617-783-1441.  Or, by mail at: Sleep HealthCenters LLC, 1505 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton, MA 02135.       All complaints will be investigated and you will not suffer retaliation for filing a complaint.  You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. If you would like to print a copy of this Privacy Policy, please click here.