We May Use or Disclose Your Protected Health Information for Purposes of Treatment, Payment or Healthcare Operations without Obtaining Your Prior Authorization and Here is One Example of Each:
Your Protected Health Information may be provided to physicians, nurses, medical technicians, clerks and others, for purposes of providing care and services. This includes medical staff members and other health care workers not members of the medical staff and who do not work for, or at, Virtua.
The billing department will access Protected Health Information - and send relevant information to insurance companies and third party payers so that payment can be made for the services provided.
We may access or send your information to our attorneys, accountants, or other personnel in the event we need the information in order to address one of our own business functions.
Protected Health Information will be provided to third party "business associates" that perform various activities and services (e.g., billing, transcription, and medical equipment) on behalf of Virtua. In such situations, Virtua will have a written contract in place that restricts the ability of the business associate to use or disclose your Protected Health Information in accordance with HIPAA requirements.
For maternity patients this Notice covers the use or disclosure of Protected Health Information related to both you and your bab(ies).
Protected Health Information Will Also Be Used Without Prior Authorization Under the Following Circumstances:
To Notify and/or Communicate with your Family — Unless you inform
us of your objection in writing, we will use or disclose your Protected Health
Information in order to notify your family or assist in notifying your family,
your personal representative or another person responsible for your care about
your location, your condition or of your death. We will also discuss your
health care with your family and to the extent that they are involved in your
care with your friends. If you are unable or unavailable to agree or object
to our discussing these matters with your family and/or friends, our health
professionals will use their judgment as to whether any communications with
your family or others are necessary and/or appropriate.
For Facility Directories — Unless you inform us of your objection
in writing, we will use and disclose in our facility directory your name,
location at which you are receiving care, condition (in general terms),
and your religious affiliation. All of this information, except for religious
affiliation, will be disclosed to people that ask for you by name. Only
members of the clergy will be told your religious affiliation.
As Required by Law — Protected Health Information will be
used and disclosed, to the extent that law requires such use or disclosure.
Examples of just a few such requirements are: communicable disease reporting,
incidence of cancer, burns, seizures, gun shots, abuse, organ donations,
product recalls, product failures, birth/deaths and/or birth defects. Examples
of just a few of the authorities/agencies to which Protected Health Information
may be disclosed include: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
the Division of Motor Vehicles, Local and/or State Police, the Medical Examiner
and County Prosecutor, the Perinatal Co-operative, Organ Procurement Agencies,
the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ombudsman, the Office of Civil
Rights, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and/or Peer Review
Organizations.
For Public Health Purposes — Protected Health Information
will be provided to local, state or federal public health authorities, as
required by law to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; to
report child abuse or neglect; report domestic violence; report to the Food
and Drug Administration problems with products and reactions to medications;
and report disease or infection exposure.
For Health Oversight Activities — Protected Health Information
will be used and disclosed to health agencies during the course of audits,
investigations, surveys, accreditation, certification and other proceedings.
In Response to Subpoenas or for Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
— In general, Protected Health Information will be used and disclosed
in the course of an administrative or judicial proceeding. However, we will
attempt to ensure that you have been made aware of the use or disclosure
of your protect health information prior to its release.
To Law Enforcement Personnel — Protected Health Information
will be used and disclosed to law enforcement officials to identify or locate
a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person, or, in some cases,
to comply with a court order or subpoena and for other law enforcement purposes.
To Coroners or Funeral Directors — Protected Health Information
may be disclosed for purposes of communicating with coroners, medical examiners
and funeral directors.
For Purposes of Organ Donation — Protected Health Information
will be used and disclosed for purposes of communicating to organizations
involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues.
For Research — Protected Health Information may be used and
disclosed to researchers if an Institutional Review Board has approved the
waiver of an Authorization and certain other assurances are met.
For Public Safety — Protected Health Information will be used
and disclosed in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat
to the health or safety of a particular person or the general public.
To Aid Specialized Government Functions — Protected Health
Information may be used and disclosed for military or national security
purposes. Protected Health Information of patients who are Armed Forces
personnel may be used and disclosed: (1) for activities deemed necessary
by appropriate military command authorities; (2) for the purpose of a determination
by the Department of Veterans Affairs of your eligibility for benefits;
or (3) to a foreign military authority if you are a member of that foreign
military service. Protected Health Information may be used and disclosed
to authorized federal officials for conducting national security and intelligence
activities.
For Worker's Compensation — Protected Health Information may
be used and disclosed as necessary to comply with worker's compensation
laws.
To Correctional Institutions or Law Enforcement Officials —
If you are an inmate, Protected Health Information may be disclosed to the
correctional institution or law enforcement officials.