HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

1.1. Alaska Skin Cancer Specialty Group is committed to protecting the privacy of your protected health information (PHI).

1.2. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

1.3. We are required to follow the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

1.4. This Notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

2.1. Treatment: We may use your health information to provide you with medical treatment and services. We may disclose your health information to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel who provide care to you.

2.2. Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for the services we provide to you. This may include billing your insurance company, verifying coverage, and obtaining pre-authorization.

2.3. Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information for healthcare operations activities such as quality assessment, staff review, and business management.

2.4. Business Associates: We may share your health information with third-party business associates who perform services on our behalf, such as billing companies or IT support, under written agreements requiring them to protect your information.

3.1. Appointment Reminders: We may contact you to remind you of appointments via phone, email, or text message.

3.2. Treatment Alternatives: We may contact you to provide information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services.

3.3. Emergency Situations: We may use or disclose your health information in emergency treatment situations.

3.4. Family and Friends: We may disclose your health information to family members, relatives, or close personal friends who are involved in your care, unless you object.

4.1. Public Health Activities: We may disclose health information for public health activities such as disease prevention, reporting births and deaths, and FDA-regulated product monitoring.

4.2. Health Oversight: We may disclose health information to health oversight agencies for activities such as audits, investigations, and licensure.

4.3. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: We may disclose health information in response to court orders, subpoenas, or administrative requests.

4.4. Law Enforcement: We may disclose health information to law enforcement officials for law enforcement purposes as required by law.

4.5. Workers' Compensation: We may disclose health information for workers' compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries.

5.1. Marketing: We will obtain your written authorization before using your health information for marketing purposes, except for face-to-face communications or promotional gifts of nominal value.

5.2. Sale of Information: We will obtain your written authorization before selling your health information.

5.3. Psychotherapy Notes: We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing psychotherapy notes, except for limited circumstances permitted by law.

5.4. Other Uses: Any other use or disclosure of your health information not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization.

6.1. Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and copy your health information maintained in your medical record and billing records.

6.2. Right to Amendment: You have the right to request that we amend your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete.

6.3. Right to Accounting: You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures of your health information made by us for certain purposes.

6.4. Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

6.5. Right to Alternative Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location.

7.1. Written Requests: All requests to exercise your rights must be made in writing and submitted to our Privacy Officer.

7.2. Response Time: We will respond to your requests within 30 days, or 60 days in certain circumstances with written notification of the delay.

7.3. Fees: We may charge reasonable fees for copying, mailing, or electronic transmission of your health information.

8.1. Internal Complaints: You may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

8.2. Federal Complaints: You may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

8.3. No Retaliation: We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

8.4. Contact Information: To file a complaint or for more information about our privacy practices, contact our Privacy Officer using the information provided below.

9.1. Notification Requirement: In the case of a breach of unsecured protected health information, we will notify you as required by law.

9.2. Timing: We will provide notification without unreasonable delay, but no later than 60 days after discovery of the breach.

9.3. Method: Notification will be provided by mail to your last known address, or by email if you have agreed to electronic communication.

9.4. Content: The notification will include a description of the breach, types of information involved, steps we are taking to address the breach, and steps you can take to protect yourself.

10.1. Right to Change: We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised or changed Notice effective for health information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future.

10.2. Notification: We will post the current Notice in our office and on our website, and will provide you with a copy of the revised Notice upon request.

10.3. Effective Date: Each Notice will contain the effective date on the front page.

11.1. General Rule: We will make reasonable efforts to use, disclose, and request only the minimum amount of health information necessary to accomplish the purpose of the use, disclosure, or request.

11.2. Exceptions: This minimum necessary standard does not apply to disclosures to or requests by healthcare providers for treatment purposes.

11.3. Implementation: We have implemented policies and procedures to limit access to health information based on job responsibilities and need to know.

12.1. If you have questions about this Notice or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact our Privacy Officer:

12.2. Federal Complaint Address: