Gastroenterology Houston, Pearland, Bay City, Lake Jackson
This practice uses and discloses health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care that you receive. This notice describes our privacy practices. You can request a copy of this notice at any time. For more information about this notice or our privacy practices and policies, please contact the person listed below.
We are permitted to use and disclose your medical information to those involved in your treatment. For example, your care may require the involvement of a specialist. When we refer you to a specialist, we will share some or all of your medical information with that physician to facilitate the delivery of care.
The physician in this practice is a specialist. When we provide treatment, we may request that your primary care physician share your medical information with us. Also, we may provide your primary care physician information about your particular condition so that he or she can appropriately treat you for other medical conditions, if any.
We are permitted to use and disclose your medical information to bill and collect payment for the services provided to you. For example, we may complete a claim form to obtain payment from your insurer or HMO. The form will contain medical information, such as a description of the medical service provided, that your insurer or HMO needs to approve payment to us.
We are permitted to use or disclose your medical information for the purposes of health care operations, which are activities that support the practice and ensure that quality care is delivered.
For example, we may engage the services of a professional to aid this practice in its compliance programs. This person will review billing and medical files to ensure we maintain our compliance with regulations and the law.
We may ask another physician to review this practice’s charts and medical record to evaluate our performance so that we may ensure that only the best health care is provided by the practice.
There are situations in which we are permitted by law to disclose or use your medical information without your written authorization or an opportunity to object. In other situations we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing any identifiable health information about you. If you choose to sign authorization to disclose information, you can later revoke that authorization, in writing, to stop future uses and disclosures. However, any revocation will not apply to disclosures or uses already made or taken in reliance on that authorization.
We may disclose your medical information for public health activities. We may disclose medical information, if authorized by law, to persons who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition.
We may disclose medical information to report reactions to medications, problems with products, or to notify people of recalls of products they may be using.
We may disclose medical information to a public agency authorized to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. Texas law requires physicians to report child abuse or neglect. We may also disclose information to report abuse or neglect of elders or the disabled.
We may disclose your medical information to a health oversight agency for audits, investigations, licensure applications, and inspections.
We may disclose your medical information in the course of judicial or administrative proceedings in response to a court order or legal process.
We may also release information to law enforcement under limited circumstances such as subpoenas, identifying a suspect, or locating a missing person.
We may disclose your medical information as required by Texas worker’s compensation law.
If you are an inmate or under law enforcement custody, we may release your medical information to the correctional institution or law enforcement official.
We may disclose medical information for military, national security, intelligence, or protective services for government officials.
We may disclose medical information for approved research, organ donation purposes, or to coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as required.
We may release your medical information where required by law.
You may request restrictions on how your information is used or shared. We are not required to agree, but will comply if we do.
You may request we contact you in a specific way or location.
You may inspect or request copies of your medical records. Requests must be made in writing.
You may request corrections to your medical records in writing.
You may request a list of disclosures of your health information.
We may contact you for appointment reminders or treatment-related communications.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact us or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Your GI Center
109 Parking Way
Lake Jackson, TX 77566
Phone: (979) 292-0033 ext. 110
Fax: (979) 292-0488
We may change our policies and this notice at any time and will post updates in the office.
