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.
The Medical Group uses health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care that you receive.  Your health information is property of The Medical Group.
How The Medical Group May Use or Disclose Your Health Information
For Treatment.  The Medical Group may use and disclose your health information to others for purposes of receiving payment for treatment and services that you receive.  For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payor, such as an insurance company or health plan.  The information on the bill may contain information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and treatment or supplies used in the course of treatment.  The Medical Group may use your information to contact you about balances.
For Health Care Operations.  The Medical Group may use and siclose health information about you for operational purposes. For example, your health information may be disclosed to members of medical staff, risk or quality improvement personnel, and to others to:
• Evaluate the performance of our staff,
• Assess the quality of care and outcomes in you cases and similar cases;
• Learn how to improve our facilities and services; and
• Determine how to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care we provide.
Required by law.  The Medical Group may use and disclose information about you as required by law.  For Example, The Medical Group may disclose information for the following purposes:
• For judicial and administrative proceedings pursuant to legal authority;
• To report information related to victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violences; and
• To assist law enforcement officials in their law enforcement duties;
Appointment Reminders and Treatment calls.  The Medical Group may contact you to provide appointment reminders of information about treatment plans, medication of test results, other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.  When contacts are made via telephone, messages will be left on answering machines with limited information.
Notification.  The Medical Group may use or disclose information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, your location, and general condition.
Business Associates.  In some cases, the Medical Group contracts with business associates to provide services on its behalf.  An example includes arrangements with business associates to provide services on its behalf.  An example includes arrangements with business associates to provide collection services.  The Medical Group may disclose your health information to such a business associate so that they can perform their respective job functions.  To protect your health information, however, The Medical Group requires the business associate to safeguard your information.
Public Health.  Your health information may be used or disclosed for public health activities or other legal authorities to prevent or control disease, injury or disability, or for other health oversight activities.
Decendents.  Health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable them to carry their lawful duties.
Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ). The Medical Group may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, product and product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable  product recalls, repairs, or replacement.
Government Functions.  Specialized government functions such as protection of public officials or reporting to various branches of the armed services that may require use or disclosure of your health information.
Workers Compensation.  Your health information may be used or disclosed in order to comply with laws and regulations related to workers compensation. 
Other uses.  Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization and you may revoke the authorization except to the extent The Medical Group has taken n reliance on such.

Your Health Information Rights
You have the right to:
• Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures on your information; however, The Medical Group is not required to agree to a request restriction;
• Obtain a paper copy of the notice of information practices upon request; Inspect and obtain a copy of your health record;
• Request that your health record be amended;
• Request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations; and
• Receive an accounting of disclosures made of you health information.

Obligations of The Medical Group
• Maintain the privacy of protected health information;
• Provide you with this notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information;
• Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction on now your information is used and disclosed;
• Accommodate reasonable requests you may make to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.

The Medical Group reserves the right to change its information practices and make the new provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains.  Revised notices will be made available to you upon request at your next visit to our practice.

Complaints
You may complain to The Medical Group and to the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.  You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Contact Information
If you have any questions or complaints, please contact:
Gail Duval  815-426-2020
Effective April 14, 2003