You have the following rights regarding medical information we maintain about you:
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about your care. Usually, this includes medical and billing records, but does not include psychotherapy notes.
For any medical information maintained in your electronic medical record your written request may include a request to provide a copy in electronic form. We will provide the information to you in the form and format you requested, assuming it is readily producible. If we cannot readily produce the record in the form and format you request, we will produce it in another readable electronic form we agree to.
In addition, we will transmit information from your electronic medical record directly to a person or entity of your choosing if the request is made in writing and you sign an authorization.
If you wish to be provided a copy of medical information that may be used to make decisions about you, you must submit your request in writing to Privacy Officer, Tanager Place. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing and or other supplies associated with your request. The cost of providing an electronic copy of information from your electronic medical record will be limited to the labor cost of preparing the electronic copy and any supplies used, such as a thumb drive or another electronic medium.
We may deny your request to inspect and/or obtain a copy in certain very limited circumstances. If you are denied access to medical information, you may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed health care professional chosen by us will review your request and the denial. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review.
Right to Request an Amendment: If you feel that medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for us.
To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to Privacy Officer, Tanager Place. In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request.
We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:
- Was not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make that amendment;
- Is not part of the medical information kept by us
- Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or
- Is accurate and complete.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures.” This is a list of the disclosures we made of medical information about you. An accounting from paper records will not include disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations. An accounting from your electronic medical record will include disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations, for three years prior to the request
To request this list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Privacy Officer, Tanager Place. Your request must state a time period which may not be longer than six years prior to the request; however you will receive an accounting for disclosures from your electronic medical record for only three years prior to the request. Your request will be provided to you on paper. The first list you request within a 12-month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.
Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment or health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the medical information we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care, like a family member or friend. For example, you may request that your spouse or child who is involved in your care not receive certain information about your condition.
We are not required to agree to your request unless the disclosure is to a health plan or other payer for purposes of carrying out payment or health care operations, unless required by law, and you have paid for the services yourself in full up front. For all other requests for restrictions, if we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment.
To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to Tanager Place’s Privacy Officer. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply, for example, disclosures to your spouse.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail.
To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing to Tanager Place’s Privacy Officer. We will not ask the reason for your request. We will accommodate all reasonable requests. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice.
Complaints: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, submit your complaint in writing to Privacy Officer, Tanager Place. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
Amy March, Privacy Officer
Tanager Place
2309 C Street SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319)365-9164 ext. 376
Other Uses of Medical Information: Other uses and disclosures of medical information not covered by this notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written permission as set out in an authorization signed by you. If you provide us permission to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke that permission, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your permission, we will no longer use or disclose medical information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization. You understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures we have already made with your permission, and that we are required to retain our records of the care that we provided to you.