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THIS INFORMATION DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BEUSED AND DISCLODED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY!.

This Notice of Privacy describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry Out treatment, payment, or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. “Protected health information” is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.

Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information:

Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of your office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your health care bills, to support the operation of the physician’s practice, and other use required by law.

Treatment: We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, we would disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to a home health agency that provides care to you. Your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or to treat you.

Payment: We submit a request for payment to your health insurance company. Your health insurance company request information from us regarding the care given. We provide to them about you and the care given. Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services.

Healthcare Operations: We obtain services from our insures or other business associates such as quality assessment, quality improvement, outcome evaluation, protocol and clinical guideline development, training programs, credentials, medical review, legal services, and insurance. We will share information about you with such insures or other business associates as necessary to obtain these services. Other permitted and required uses and disclosures will be made only with your consent, authorization or opportunity to object unless required by law. You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing except to the extent that your physician or practice has taken action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization.

You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information.

Under federal law however, you may not inspect or copy the following records: Psychotherapy notes, Information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in a civil, criminal, or administrative action, or proceeding, and protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information.

You have the right to request restriction of your protected health information.

This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your protected health information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as described in this notice of privacy practices. Your request must state the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply. Your physician is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request. If the physician believes it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your protected health information, your protected health information will not be restricted. You have the right to use another healthcare professional.

You have the right to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us upon request, even if you agreed to accept this notice alternatively i.e. electronically.

You may have the right to have your physician amend your protected health information. If we deny your request for amendment, you have a right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.

You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any of your protected health information. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and will inform you by mail of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this notice.

Complaints: You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy

rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint with us by notifying our privacy contract of your complaint.

We will not retaliate against you for filling a complaint.

This notice was published and becomes effective on/or before April 14, 2003.We are required by law to maintain the privacy of, and provide individuals with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information. If you have any objections to this form, please ask to speak with our HIPAA compliance officer in person or by phone at our main phone number.

Signature below is only acknowledgement that you have received this notice of our privacy practices.