PRIVACY POLICY NOTICE SUMMARY
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This summary notice generally describes how your protected health information may be used, disclosed, and how you can access it. Remember this is a summary, please review it carefully and in case of doubts or conflicts refer to the long version of the Notice.
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Effective: April 14, 2003. Revised: March 2013.
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USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
The Health Department's Medical Cannabis Regulatory Board may use your health information for treatment (e.g. Send a copy of your clinical information to a specialist as part of a referral), obtain payment for treatment (e.g. Bill a plan, or health insurance), or for other health care operations (e.g. Evaluating the quality of treatment you receive.)
We may use and disclose your health information without your authorization when it is used to: (1) Public health purposes; (2) Investigations of abuse, abuse, or domestic violence; (3) Audits; (4) Scientific research (subject to certain conditions); (5) Organ donation; (6) Purposes of compensation for work accidents; (7) Cases where there is a limitation to communicate with you due to a physical disability, your condition or your language; (8) Emergencies and (9) Special government functions. We will disclose your health information when (10) is required for law enforcement and (11) to maintain law and order. Additionally, we may use it for (12) informational purposes (e.g. Appointment reminders, communicating treatment alternatives, fundraising, etc.)
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Otherwise, we will request your written authorization before using or disclosing any identifiable health information about you. Federal law requires that we request authorization to disclose your health information at the following times:
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I. When the use or disclosure of your health information has marketing purposes.
II. When the sale of your health information is determined.
III. Use or disclosure of psychotherapy notes, among others.
IV. When we intend to use your information for the purpose of fundraising.
V. When your genetic information is requested.
VI. When a health plan requests your health information for a condition for which you have paid for your treatment.
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Federal law also requires that your health information be kept confidential for fifty (50) years after the death of a patient who received our health services.
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If you decide to sign the authorization to use and disclose your information, you can later revoke it and stop any other future use or disclosure.
We can change our privacy policies and practices at any time. In the event of a significant change in our policies, we will have updated Notices available in the service delivery areas and on our website within a reasonable time after the change.
You may request a copy of this notice at any time. For additional information about our privacy policies and practices, please contact the person identified at the end.
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PRIVACY RIGHTS
You have the right to examine and obtain a copy of the health information that appears in your clinical record designated by the institution. Also you have the right of notice in case of a breach of protected health information loss incident.
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If you request a copy of said information, you will be charged the amount provided by the Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, as amended. You also have the right to obtain a listing of all the times that we have disclosed your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and health care operations.
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If you understand that the information in your record is incorrect or that existing information has been omitted, you have the right to request that the existing information be amended or the missing information be added. The institution has the right to deny your request. Any determination will be notified to you in writing and, like your request, will be included in your file. In addition, you have the right to request that your health information be communicated to a certain address other than that of your residence or using a particular means (mail, "e-mail", etc.)
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If this notice was sent to you electronically, you can get a paper copy. If you have paid in full for the provision of a medical service, you have the right to ask us not to disclose information about that service provided to your insurer.
If you understand that we have violated your privacy rights or disagree with a decision we have made regarding access to your health information, you may contact the office listed at the end of this notice.
You can also send a written complaint to the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. The person listed at the end can provide you with the address if you request it. Under no circumstances will you be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
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OUR LEGAL OBLIGATION
We are required by law to protect the privacy of your information, provide you with this notice of our privacy practices, and comply with the practices described therein. If you have any questions or complaints, contact the Privacy Officer, Lourdes Claudio of the Puerto Rico Department of Health at (787) 765-2929 Ext 3934.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that you be notified of the institution's privacy and confidentiality practices and that such notification be evidenced. The Medical Cannabis Regulatory Board is a part of the Department of Health, which is a covered entity, and has the responsibility to safeguard your Protected Health Information (PHI) while using and/or managing it for the exclusive purpose of issuing your identification card for the use of medical cannabis.
In order to comply with the provisions of law, our entity has notified you of the “Privacy Practices of the Regulatory Board for Medical Cannabis" and requests that you sign this Acknowledgment as evidence of the notification of said Notice.
The Medical Cannabis Regulatory Board and its workforce agree to keep all demographic and health information strictly confidential, and such information will NOT be shared with third parties unless you or your representative authorize it.
By signing it, you acknowledge having been notified of our Privacy Policy and are aware of the use that the Medical Cannabis Regulatory Board will give to your health information as described in the Notice.
Please remember that the organization has reserved the right to revise, change or amend the use and disclosure policy and practice described in the Notice, at any time.
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