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If you believe your health information was used or shared in a way that is not allowed under the privacy law, or if you weren’t able to exercise your rights, you can file a complaint with your provider or health insurer. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. government.


Go online to www.hhs. gov/ocr/hipaa/ for more information. A separate law provides additional privacy protections to patients of alcohol and drug treatment programs. For more information, go online to www.samhsa.gov.


Your Privacy & Health Information You have privacy rights under a federal law that


protects your health information. Tese rights are important for you to know. Federal law sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information.


Who must follow this law? n Doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and many other healthcare providers


n Health insurance companies, HMOs and most employer group health plans


n Certain government programs that pay for healthcare, such as Medicare and Medicaid


What information is protected? n Information your doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers put in your medical records


n Conversations your doctor has with nurses and others regarding your care or treatment


n Information about you in your health insurer’s computer system


n Billing information about you at your clinic n Most other health information about you held by those who must follow this law


You have rights over your health information. Providers and health insurers who are required to follow


this law must comply with your right to: n Ask to see and get a copy of your health records n Request an amendment to your health record n Receive a notice that tells you how your health information may be used and shared


n Decide if you want to give your permission before your health information can be used or shared for certain purposes, such as for marketing


n Get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes n File a complaint


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