Notice of Privacy Practices

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains those rights and some of our responsibilities.

Obtain an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

You may ask to inspect or receive an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you.

We will ordinarily provide a copy or summary within 30 days after receiving your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law.

In limited circumstances, we may deny access to some or all of the requested information. When applicable, we will explain the reason and whether the denial may be reviewed.

Ask us to correct your medical record

You may ask us to correct health information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

We may deny your request, but we will provide a written explanation, generally within 60 days. Even when an amendment is denied, you may have the right to submit a written statement of disagreement that will be maintained with the disputed information.

Request confidential communications

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as calling only a particular telephone number, or send communications to a different address.

We will accommodate reasonable requests. Please tell us if disclosing the usual contact information could place you at risk.

Ask us to limit what we use or disclose

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

We are not generally required to agree to the request and may decline when the restriction could affect your care or our ability to operate the Practice. If we agree, we will follow the restriction except when disclosure is needed for emergency treatment or is otherwise required by law.

If you pay for a healthcare service completely out of pocket, you may ask us not to disclose information about that service to your health insurer for payment or healthcare operations. We will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.

Receive an accounting of disclosures

You may ask for a list of certain disclosures of your health information made during the six years before your request.

The accounting will not include every disclosure. For example, it generally will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, disclosures made directly to you, or disclosures you authorized.

We will provide one accounting during any 12-month period without charge. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply to additional requests during the same period.

Receive a copy of this notice

You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

A current copy is also available on our website and at the Practice office.

Choose someone to act for you

If you have authorized another person to act as your personal representative, such as through a valid healthcare power of attorney or legal guardianship, that person may exercise your privacy rights.

We will verify the person’s identity and legal authority before acting on a request.

File a complaint

You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

You may contact the Practice using the information at the end of this notice. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Telephone: 1-877-696-6775

Online complaint information is available through the HHS Office for Civil Rights website.

We will not retaliate against you or alter your treatment because you filed a complaint.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you may tell us how you want that information used or disclosed.

Family members, friends, and others involved in your care

You may tell us whether we may share relevant information with a family member, close friend, caregiver, or another person involved in your care or payment for your care.

When you are unable to communicate your preference, we may share limited information when we believe doing so is in your best interest and is permitted by law. We may also share information when necessary to reduce a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

Disaster-relief activities

We may disclose limited information to an authorized disaster-relief organization so that your family or others responsible for your care can be informed of your location, condition, or death.

You may tell us not to make this disclosure when circumstances allow us to ask you.

Mental Health information and psychotherapy notes

Mental health information may receive additional protection under federal or state law.

Most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your specific written authorization. Psychotherapy notes are maintained separately from the general medical record and are treated differently from ordinary treatment notes.

Written authorization

Uses and disclosures that are not described in this notice and are not otherwise permitted or required by law will be made only with your written authorization.

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on the authorization.

How We Typically Use and Disclose Health Information

Treatment

We may use your health information and share it with other professionals involved in your care.

For example, Dr. Taylor may communicate with your primary-care physician, therapist, pharmacy, laboratory, hospital, or another treating provider when doing so is appropriate for your treatment.

Healthcare operations

We may use and disclose health information to operate the Practice, coordinate services, evaluate care, train workforce members, conduct quality-improvement activities, obtain professional advice, maintain security, and contact you when necessary.

For example, we may review patient records to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of our services.

Payment

We may use and disclose your health information to bill for services and obtain payment from you, your health plan, or another responsible party.

For example, we may provide information to your health insurer when submitting a courtesy claim or confirming benefits.

Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law

We may use or disclose your information in other circumstances that serve important public purposes. Before making such a disclosure, we must meet the applicable legal requirements.

Public Health and safety activities

We may disclose health information for authorized activities such as:

Health oversight

We may disclose information to health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, including audits, inspections, licensing activities, disciplinary proceedings, and investigations.

Compliance with law

We will disclose health information when federal or state law requires us to do so, including disclosures to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when it is investigating our compliance with federal privacy law.

Research

We may use or disclose health information for approved health research when the applicable legal requirements have been satisfied.

Workers’ compensation and similar programs

We may disclose health information as authorized by and necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws and similar programs.

Judicial and administrative proceedings

We may disclose health information in response to a valid court or administrative order.

Under certain conditions, we may also respond to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process after the required privacy protections have been satisfied.

Law-enforcement activities

We may disclose health information for certain law-enforcement purposes when permitted or required by law.

Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors

We may disclose information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when legally permitted and necessary for that person to perform authorized duties.

Organ and tissue donation

We may disclose health information to authorized organ-procurement organizations when applicable.

Specialized government functions

We may disclose information for legally authorized military, national-security, intelligence, correctional-institution, or presidential-protection activities.

Substance-Use-Disorder Records

Certain substance-use-disorder patient records may receive additional protection under 42 CFR Part 2.

To the extent we maintain records that are subject to Part 2, we will not use or disclose those records in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigation or proceeding against you unless the disclosure is permitted by your written consent or is authorized by an appropriate court order and subpoena, as applicable.

Part 2 records will not be used or disclosed for fundraising without the advance notice and patient choice required by law.

Not every record concerning substance use is necessarily a Part 2 record. The additional protections apply when the record and the program or provider maintaining it are covered by Part 2.

Specially Protected Information

Certain categories of health information may receive greater protection under applicable federal or state law. These may include:

When another applicable law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, we will follow the more protective requirement.

Telehealth Services

Health information created, discussed, or transmitted during a telehealth appointment is protected in the same manner as information associated with an in-office appointment.

The Practice uses remote-communication technology intended for healthcare services. We use reasonable safeguards and enter into appropriate contractual arrangements with technology vendors when required.

Patients should participate in telehealth appointments from a private location, use a secure internet connection when possible, and take reasonable steps to prevent others from seeing or overhearing confidential communications.

Electronic Communications

We may communicate with you about appointments, treatment, billing, prescriptions, or other healthcare matters through telephone, voicemail, email, text message, or other methods you authorize or reasonably request.

Standard email and text messages may present privacy risks. You may ask us to use an alternative communication method or limit the information included in electronic messages.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

We will not use or disclose your health information in a manner that is inconsistent with this notice unless you authorize us in writing or the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Changes to This Notice

A current notice will be available:

The effective date shown at the beginning of the notice will identify the version currently in effect.

Questions, Requests, and Complaints

Contact the Practice’s designated privacy contract for questions about this notice, requests involving your health information, or privacy complaints:

Privacy Contact: Clifford Taylor
Practice: Clifford A. Taylor, M.D.
Address: 261 James Street, Suite 2ER, Morristown, NJ 07960
Telephone: (973) 540-1656
Email: ctaylor@cliffordtaylormd.com
Website: https://cliffordtaylormd.com/

Please do not use ordinary email to send highly sensitive medical information unless the Practice has instructed you that the communication method is appropriate.