h1. Privacy Practices

Page conSection:
Privacy
Effective Date: April 14, 2003
Reviewed by:
Review Date:

POLICY

The privacy practices of Family Hospice, designed to protect the privacy, use and disclosure of protected health information, are clearly delineated in Family Hospice's Notice of Privacy Practices which was developed and is used in accordance with Federal requirements.

PROCEDURE

1. The privacy practices of Family Hospice are described in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

2. The privacy practices and requirements of Family Hospice are further detailed in the hospice's privacy policies and procedures.

3. The Notice of Privacy Practices is given to all patients no later than the date of the first service delivery.

4. A good faith effort is made to obtain written acknowledgement of the patient's receipt of the hospice's Notice of Privacy Practices.

5. When written acknowledgement of the patient's receipt of the Notice cannot be obtained, there is documentation to explain efforts made to obtain it and the reason(s) why it was not obtained.

6. The Notice of Privacy Practices is available to anyone who requests it.

7. The Notice of Privacy Practices will be revised as needed to reflect any changes in Family Hospice's privacy practices. Revisions to the Notice will not be implemented prior to the effective date of the revised Notice.

8. When revisions to the Notices of Privacy Practices are necessary, all current patients, employees, and business associates will receive a revised copy with notation of the changes made.

9. The Privacy Official retains copies of the original Notice of Privacy Practices and any subsequent revisions for a period of sixtent.