Notice of Privacy Practices

Our Legal Duties

Cooper Home Health is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI, and to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make new provisions effective for all PHI we maintain. When we make a material change to this Notice, we will make the revised Notice available on our website and provide it to you upon request.

How we may use and disclose your health information

The following describes ways that Cooper Home Health may use and disclose your protected health information. Not every use or disclosure will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories below.

For Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. For example, your information may be shared with your nephrologist, home dialysis nurse, dietitian, social worker, or other members of your care team to coordinate your home dialysis care.

For Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and receive payment from your health insurance plan or other payers for the services we provide. For example, we may submit claims to Medicare or your commercial insurer that include information about your dialysis treatment.

For Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI to support our healthcare operations — including quality improvement activities, staff training and education, compliance reviews, and administrative functions necessary to operate Cooper Home Health.

Other permitted uses and disclosures

We may also use or disclose your PHI without your authorization in the following circumstances:

• As required by law — including court orders, law enforcement requests, or other legal obligations

• Public health activities — such as reporting communicable diseases or adverse events to public health authorities

• To avert a serious threat to health or safety — when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat

• For health oversight activities — audits, investigations, and inspections by government oversight agencies

• To family members or others involved in your care — when you have agreed or when necessary in an emergency

• Workers' compensation — to the extent required by workers' compensation laws

Uses requiring your written authorization

Other uses and disclosures of your PHI not covered by this Notice — including most uses for marketing purposes and the sale of your PHI — will only be made with your written authorization. You have the right to revoke that authorization at any time, in writing, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on it.

Your rights regarding your health information

You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information. To exercise any of these rights, contact Cooper's Privacy Official using the information at the bottom of this page.

Right to Access Your PHI

You have the right to inspect and receive a copy of your medical and billing records. Requests may be submitted in writing. We may charge a reasonable fee for copies.

Right to Request an Amendment

If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment in writing. We may deny the request in certain circumstances and will provide a written explanation.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI we have made, other than for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. The first accounting in any 12-month period is provided at no charge.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request that we restrict how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to a restriction, except in limited circumstances involving disclosure to a health plan when you have paid out of pocket in full.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you about your health information by a specific means or at a specific location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice

You have the right to request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

How to File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Cooper Home Health or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-800-468-1019 · TTY: 711
ocrportal.hhs.gov