SURGICAL SPECIALISTS OF LOUISIANA, LLC
and
SOUTHERN BARIATRIC ASSOCIATES, LLC
 
 
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
 
 
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.
 
 This Privacy Policy is adopted to ensure that Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, LLC and Southern Bariatric Associates, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “SSL/SBA”), comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. 
 
This policy shall be effective as of April 14, 2003, and shall remain in effect until it is either amended or cancelled.
 
If you have any questions or comments concerning this policy, you should contact the SSL/SBA Chief Privacy Officer by writing to101 E. Fairway Dr. Suite 402, Covington, LA  70433, or calling (985) 234-3000.
 
 I.          DEFINITIONS  
 
For the purposes of this policy, the following defined terms shall have the following definitions:
 
A.        HHS shall mean the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
           
B.       PHI shall mean specific, individual, identifiable Protected Health Information (hereafter referred to as “PHI”), as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 164.501 of the Privacy Standards.
 
 
II.        INFORMATION COLLECTED
 
            In the ordinary course of business, SSL/SBA may receive personal information such as:
 
    A.        Patient’s name, address, and telephone number;
    B.         Information relating to diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or any other medical information concerning a patient; and
    C.         Patient’s insurance information and coverage.
 
In addition, other information shall be gathered about a patient, and SSL/SBA shall create a record of the care and/or services rendered to the patient by SSL/SBA.  Some of the information may also be provided to SSL/SBA by other individuals or organizations that are part of the patient’s “circle of care”, e.g. the patient’s referring physician, other doctors, the patient’s health insurance plan and family members, hospitals or other health care providers.
 
III.       HOW SSL/SBA MAY USE or DISCLOSE PHI
 
SSL/SBA collects PHI from you and stores the information in a paper chart and/or an electronic computer.  This is your medical record. The medical record is the property of SSL/SBA, but the information in the medical record belongs to you.  As such, SSL/SBA shall take reasonable steps to protect the privacy of your PHI.  To this end, it is the policy of SSL/SBA that your PHI may not be used or disclosed unless it meets at least one of the following conditions:
 
A.        The patient, who is the subject of the information, has consented to the use or disclosure of       his/her PHI, and the use or disclosure is specifically for one or more of three reasons:
 
Treatment                               SSL/SBA shall collect information from you regarding your chief compliant, history of present illness, past medical history, and any diagnosis and/or treatment rendered at the SSL/SBA offices. This information may be transmitted to various departments within our organization, to your referring physician, local or area hospitals and/or surgery centers, and any other entities associated or involved in your medical care.   This information may also be disclosed to your primary care physician.
 
Payment                                  SSL/SBA shall collect billing information from you such as your present address, social security number, date of birth, health insurance carrier, policy number and any other related billing information. SSL/SBA shall disclose to your health insurance provider, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other payer of health care claims, the minimum amount of your health care information that is necessary to process your insurance claim. 
 
Health Care Operations         SSL/SBA shall disclose your PHI to our physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, billing clerks, administrative staff and other employees involved in your care and treatment.
 
B.         The patient has authorized the use or disclosure of his/her PHI.
 
C.         The patient does not object to the disclosure, and the disclosure is to persons involved in the  care and treatment of the individual, or for facility directory purposes. 
 
      D.        Notification and communication with family:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA to use and disclose your PHI in order to notify or assist in   notifying a family member, your Personal Representative, or any person responsible for your care, including your location, your general condition, or in the event of your death.  If you are able and available to agree or object, we will give you the opportunity to do so prior to making this notification.  If you are unable or unavailable to agree or object, our healthcare professionals will use their best judgment in communication with your family and others.
 
E.         Voice mail messages:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that a voice mail or answering machine message may be left at a patient’s home, or any other phone number that the patient provides to SSL/SBA, regarding appointments, billing or payment issues, or any other PHI related to treatment, payment or health care operations.
 
                F.         It is the policy of SSL/SBA that we may use and disclose your PHI under any of the following circumstances:
 
As Required by Law                           We may disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state or local law, including any judicial proceedings. 
 
Law Enforcement                               We may disclose your PHI to law enforcement officials in order to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person; in order to comply with a court order or subpoena; or for any other law enforcement purposes.
 
Specialized Government Functions    We may disclose your PHI for military, national security, or incarceration purposes.
 
Public Health                                      We may disclose your PHI to public health authorities for purposes related to: preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability; reporting child abuse or neglect; reporting domestic violence; reporting to the Food and Drug Administration problems with products and reactions to medications; and reporting disease or infection exposure.
 
Public Safety                                       We may disclose your PHI to appropriate persons in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular person or the general public.
 
Health Oversight Activities               We may disclose your PHI to health agencies during the course of audits, investigations, inspections, licensure and other proceedings.
 
Deceased Person Information            We may disclose your PHI to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors.
 
Organ Donation                                  We may disclose your PHI to organizations involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues.
 
Research                                                We may disclose your PHI to researchers conducting research that has been approved by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board.
 
Worker’s Compensation                We may disclose your PHI as necessary to comply with worker’s compensation laws.
           
Marketing                                           We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or to give you information about other treatments or health-related benefits and services that may be of benefit or interest to you.
 
 
IV.       OTHER POLICIES, USES and DISCLOSURES
 
Notice of Privacy Practices:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that privacy practices must be published, and that all uses and disclosures of PHI are done in accordance with the SSL/SBA Privacy Policy.
 
Designation of Personal Representative:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that access to PHI must be granted to your designated Personal Representative as specified by you when such access is requested.  This designation of a Personal Representative must be submitted in writing by completing the form entitled “Designation of Personal Representative”.
 
Deceased Individuals:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that privacy protections extend to information concerning deceased individuals.
 
Restriction Requests:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that serious consideration be given to any request for restrictions on uses and disclosures of PHI published in this Privacy Policy. Such a request must be submitted in writing by completing the form entitled “Restriction Request on Uses and Disclosures”.  SSL/SBA is not required to agree to the restriction.  However, if a particular restriction is agreed to, SSL/SBA is bound by that restriction. 
 
Minimum Necessary Disclosure:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that it shall make reasonable efforts to limit the disclosure to the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish the purpose of the disclosure.  It is also the policy of SSL/SBA that all requests for PHI must be limited to the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish the purpose of the request.
 
Access to Information:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that you have the right to inspect and copy your PHI.  It is the policy of SSL/SBA policy that access to PHI must be granted when such access is requested.  Such a request must be submitted in writing by completing the form entitled “Request for Inspection and/or Copy of PHI”. Costs associated with the copying of any PHI shall be in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
 
Confidential Communications Channels:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that you have the right to receive your PHI through a reasonable alternative means or at an alternative location.  Confidential communication channels can be used at your request, as long as the request is within the reasonable capabilities of SSL/SBA (e.g. a request not to be called at work).  Such a request must be submitted in writing by completing the form entitled “Request for Confidential Communication Channels”.
 
Amendment of Incomplete or Incorrect PHI:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that you have the right to request that SSL/SBA amend your PHI if you feel that it is incorrect or incomplete.  SSL/SBA is not required to change your PHI, and will provide you with information about the denial, and how you can disagree with the denial.  Such a request must be submitted in writing by completing the form entitled “Request for Amendment of PHI”.
 
Accounting of Disclosures:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that an accounting of disclosures of PHI made by SSL/SBA be given to you if such an accounting is requested.  Such a request must be submitted in writing by completing the form entitled “Request for Accounting of Disclosures”.  Although you have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your PHI made by SSL/SBA, SSL/SBA does not have to account for disclosures related to the Treatment, Payment or Health Care Operations issues described above in this Notice of Privacy Practices.
                                                          
Responsibility:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that the responsibility for implementing and overseeing the procedures described in this Privacy Policy shall lie with the SSL/SBA Chief Privacy Officer.
 
Complaints:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that all complaints by patients, employees, providers or other entities relating to PHI be investigated and resolved in a timely fashion. Complaints about this Notice of Privacy Practices or how SSL/SBA handles your PHI should be directed to:
           
            Chief Privacy Officer
                        Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, LLC
                        Southern Bariatric Associates, LLC
                        101 E. Fairway Drive  Suite 402            
                        Covington, LA  70433
 
Phone:  (985) 234-3000
 
If you are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles a complaint, you may submit a formal complaint to:
 
                        Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, DC  20201
 
Prohibited Activities:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that no officer, manager or employee of SSL/SBA may engage in any intimidating or retaliatory acts or actions against any person who files a complaint or otherwise exercises their rights under HIPAA regulations.  It is also the policy of SSL/SBA that no disclosure of PMI will be withheld as a condition for payment for services from the patient or from any entity.
 
Mitigation:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that the effects of any unauthorized use or disclosure of PHI be mitigated (to decrease the damage caused by the action) to the extent possible.
 
Business Associates:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that business associates must be contractually bound to protect your PHI to the same degree as set forth in this Privacy Policy.
 
Preemption of State Law:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that the federal privacy regulations are the minimum standard to be used regarding the privacy of a patient’s PMI.  If the laws of the State of Louisiana are more stringent in certain areas, the state laws in these areas shall prevail.  In all other areas, the federal privacy regulations shall prevail.
 
Cooperation with Privacy Oversight Authorities:  It is the policy of SSL/SBA that oversight agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights of HHS be given full support and cooperation in their efforts to ensure the protection of PHI within this organization.  It is also the policy of SSL/SBA that all SSL/SBA personnel cooperate fully with all privacy compliance review and investigations.
 
 
V.         CHANGES to NOTICE of PRIVACY PRACTICES
 
SSL/SBA reserves the right to amend this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time in the future, and will provide a copy of any changes to you upon request.  Until such amendment is made, SSL/SBA is required by law to comply with this Notice as written.
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