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(989)
872-3870
6240
Hill Street
Cass City, MI 48726
E-mail us
for more
information
Copyright © 2003
James
D. Thomas, DDS, PC
All Rights Reserved
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Health
Privacy Rules
The
new federal health privacy regulations, which are a part of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), went into effect April
14, 2003. These regulations require extra protections for the privacy of
patients’ health information by certain health care providers, including
our office, and by other companies which may have access to your Protected
Health Information (PHI). They also establish additional rights for patients
regarding their health information.
Notice
of Privacy Practices
If you have
visited our office recently, you have probably already noticed some
effects of the HIPAA privacy regulations. You may have read our
Notice of Privacy Practices and been asked to sign an acknowledgment
form.
As required by the regulations, our Notice of Privacy Practices
informs our patients of our office policies regarding how their
PHI may be
used and disclosed, and how they can gain access to this information.
The Notice describes Our Obligation to our Patients, the Uses and
Disclosures of Health Information, Your Rights as a Patient, and
How to Submit
Questions and Complaints. To read the Notice, click on the link
above or in the left panel.
Acknowledgement
and Consent Form
HIPAA privacy
regulations require us to present our Notice of Privacy Practices
to our patients and to ask for their signature acknowledging they
have received this policy. You may refuse to sign this form. In
addition, existing privacy law in Michigan requires our office to
obtain your
written consent before we disclose any of your information, with
some
exceptions. You can read more about this on the form we use to obtain
your acknowledgement and consent by clicking on the link above or
on the left panel. When you come into our office, we will ask you
to sign the Acknowledgement and Consent portions of
this form. If you wish,
you may print out the form, complete it and bring it to your next
visit.
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