HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)

Your Privacy Rights Under HIPAA

This Notice describes how your Protected Health Information (PHI) may be used and disclosed by Alpine Home Medical and how you can access your information. Please review it carefully.

Your health information includes details about your medical equipment orders, insurance claims, prescriptions, and other data that identifies you and relates to your health or treatment.

Our Responsibilities

Under HIPAA, Alpine Home Medical is required to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
• Provide you with this Notice explaining our legal duties and privacy practices.
• Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may compromise the privacy or security of your information.
• Follow the terms of this Notice.
• Obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for any purpose not described below.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use or share your PHI in the following ways:

1. For Treatment
We may share your information with healthcare providers, physicians, or therapists involved in your care to ensure you receive the proper equipment, supplies, and support services.
Example: Sharing prescription details with your doctor or therapist to verify your DME needs.

2. For Payment
We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment from you, your insurance company, or a third party.
Example: Submitting information to your insurance provider to verify benefits or process a claim for your medical equipment.

3. For Healthcare Operations
We may use PHI to manage our business operations, improve services, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Example: Conducting quality assessments, staff training, or internal audits.

4. For Appointment Reminders and Follow-Up
We may contact you to remind you of upcoming equipment deliveries, follow-up services, or product maintenance needs.

5. For Legal and Regulatory Requirements
We may disclose PHI if required by law, including:

• Reporting fraud, abuse, or safety concerns.
• Responding to court orders, subpoenas, or audits.
• Cooperating with health oversight agencies.

Other Uses and Disclosures
We may also use or share your PHI in the following situations:

• Public Health and Safety: Reporting adverse events, recalls, or disease prevention.
• Law Enforcement: When required by law or to locate a missing person.
• Workers’ Compensation: To comply with applicable laws for work-related injuries.
• De-identified or Limited Data: We may use data with identifying details removed for research, analytics, or business planning.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before:

• Using PHI for marketing or promotional communications not directly related to your care.
• Selling your PHI to third parties.
• Sharing psychotherapy notes (if applicable).

You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights under HIPAA:

1. Right to Access
You can request a copy of your PHI in paper or electronic form. We may charge a reasonable fee for copies or mailing.

2. Right to Amend
If you believe your information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment.

3. Right to Request Confidential Communications
You can request that we contact you in a specific way (e.g., at a different address or phone number).

4. Right to Request Restrictions
You may request limitations on how we use or share your PHI. While we will consider your request, we are not required to agree in all cases.

5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of disclosures we have made of your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or operations.

6. Right to a Paper Copy
You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding Your Information

Alpine Home Medical uses administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your PHI, including encryption, secure access controls, and employee training. We ensure all staff and business associates comply with HIPAA regulations.

Changes to This Notice

We may update this Notice at any time. The revised version will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be posted on our website at www.alpinehomemedical.com.