HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

Our Responsibilities

Joy Care Unit LLC (“Joy Care Unit,” “we,” or “us”) provides pediatric home health and private duty nursing services. We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (“PHI”)
• Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
• Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect
• Let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information

We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you give us permission, you may change your mind at any time by letting us know in writing.

In this notice, “you” means the patient. For children, a parent, legal guardian, or other personal representative may exercise these rights on the child’s behalf.

How We Use and Share Your Information

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:

• Treatment. We use and share your information with the nurses caring for you, your physicians, hospitals, therapists, pharmacies, equipment suppliers, and other providers involved in your care. For example, your nurse may share updates on your condition with your child’s physician.
• Payment. We use and share your information to bill and get paid by Idaho Medicaid, health plans, or other payers. For example, we give information about your child to an insurance plan so it will pay for nursing services.
• Healthcare operations. We use and share your information to run our agency, improve care, train staff, and contact you when needed. For example, we may review care records to evaluate the quality of the care our nurses provide.
• Business associates. We may share information with companies that perform services for us, such as billing or electronic record systems. They must sign agreements to protect your information.
• Appointment reminders and care-related communication. We may contact you about schedules, shift changes, or health-related services that may interest you.

Other Ways We May Share Your Information

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways, usually in ways that contribute to the public good. We must meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes:

• As required by law. We will share information when federal, state, or local law requires it.
• Public health and safety. For example, to prevent disease, report adverse reactions to medications, or help with product recalls.
• Reporting abuse or neglect. As mandatory reporters, we will report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities as required by Idaho law.
• Preventing a serious threat. To prevent or reduce a serious and imminent threat to anyone’s health or safety.
• Health oversight. To agencies that oversee healthcare, such as Medicaid audits, licensing reviews, and inspections.
• Legal proceedings. In response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena when the law allows it.
• Law enforcement. For law enforcement purposes when the law allows it.
• Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors. As needed for them to carry out their duties.
• Organ and tissue donation. To organ procurement organizations when applicable.
• Research. For research that meets the privacy protections required by law.
• Workers’ compensation and government functions. For workers’ compensation claims and for special government functions such as military or national security purposes, as permitted by law.

Your Choices

For certain information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. You have both the right and the choice to tell us to:

• Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your or your child’s care
• Share information in a disaster relief situation

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

We never sell your information, use it for marketing, or share most psychotherapy notes unless you give us written permission.

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights:

• Get a copy of your health records. You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your records. We will usually provide a copy or summary within 30 days of your request and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Ask us to correct your records. You can ask us to correct information you think is incorrect or incomplete. We may say no, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
• Request confidential communications. You can ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as by a certain phone number, or to send mail to a different address. We will say yes to all reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit what we use or share. You can ask us not to use or share certain information for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree if it would affect your care. If you pay for a service in full out of pocket, you can ask us not to share that information with your health plan, and we will say yes unless the law requires us to share it.
• Get a list of those we’ve shared information with. You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your information for six years before the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why. This list will not include disclosures for treatment, payment, and operations, or ones you asked us to make. We provide one list a year for free.
• Get a copy of this notice. You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
• Choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. Parents and guardians generally act for minor children.

To use any of these rights, contact our Privacy Officer using the information below.

File a Complaint

If you feel we have violated your privacy rights, you can file a complaint with us by contacting our Privacy Officer using the information below.

You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints.

Changes to This Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, from your care team, and on this website.

Privacy Officer Contact

For questions about this notice, to exercise your rights, or to file a complaint, contact the Joy Care Unit Privacy Officer: