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Buffington Family Medicine Policies

Notice of Privacy Policies: 

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Understanding Your Health Information:

Each time you visit a hospital, physician or other healthcare provider, a record of your visit is made in order to manage the care you receive. Buffington Family Medicine (BFM) understands the medical information that is recorded about you is personal. The confidentiality of your health information is also protected under both state and federal law.

This notice of Privacy Practice describes how BFM may use and disclose your information and the rights that you have regarding your health information.

Your Health Information Rights: 

Although your health information is the physical property of BFM, the information belongs to you, and you have certain rights over that information. You have the right to:

• Request, in writing, a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your health information.  However, agreement with the request is not required by law, such as when it is determined that compliance with the restriction cannot be guaranteed.
• Inspect or obtain a copy of your health record as provided by the law.
• Request, in writing, that your health record be amended as provided by the law, if you feel the health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete.  We may deny your request under certain circumstances.
• Request that we communicate with you about your health information in a specific way at a specific location. Reasonable requests will be accommodated.
• Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your health information as provided by law;
• Obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices on request.

You may exercise these rights by directing a request to the privacy contact listed on this notice.

Our Responsibilities: 

BFM has certain responsibilities regarding your health information, including the requirement to:

• Maintain privacy of your information.
• Provide you with this notice that describes BFM’s legal duties and privacy practices regarding the information that we maintain about you.
• Abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

BFM reserves the right to change these information privacy policies and practices and to make the changes applicable to any health information that we maintain. If changes are made, the revised Notice of Privacy Practices will be made available to each Buffington Family Medicine facility, posted on the Buffington Family Medicine website and will be supplied when requested.

Uses and Disclosures of Health Information Without Authorization:

When you obtain services from BFM, certain uses and disclosures of your health information are necessary and permitted by law in order to treat you, to process payments for your treatment and to support the operations of the entity and other involved providers. The following categories describe ways that BFM uses or discloses your information, and some representative examples are provided in each category. All of the ways your health information is used or disclosed should fall within one of these categories. 

Your health information will be used for treatment.

For example: Disclosure of medical information about you may be made to doctors, nurses, technicians and others who are involved in taking care of you at BFM. This information may be disclosed to other physicians who are treating you or other healthcare facilities involved in your care. Information may be shared with pharmacies, laboratories or radiology centers for the coordination of different treatments.

Your health information will be used for payment.

For example: Health information about you may be disclosed so that services provided to you may be billed to an insurance company or third party. Information may be provided to your health plan about treatment you are going to receive in order to obtain prior approval or to determine if your health plan will cover the treatment.

Your health information will be used for healthcare operations.

For example: The information in your health record may be used to evaluate and improve the quality of the care and services we provide.

Business Associates:

There are some services that we provide through contracts with third party business associates. Examples include external laboratories, transcription agencies and copy services. To protect your health information, BFM requires these business associates to appropriately protect your information.

Disclosures Requiring Verbal Agreement: 

Unless you give notice of an objection, and in accordance with your Authorization to Verbally Release Health Information, medical information may be released to a family member or other person who is involved in your medical care who helps pay for your care. Information about you may be disclosed to notify a family member, legally authorized representative or other person responsible for your care about your location and general condition. This may include disclosures of information about you to an organization assisting in a disaster relief effort, such as the American Red Cross, so that your family can be notified about your condition. You will be given an opportunity to agree or object to these disclosures except as due to your incapacity or in emergency circumstances.

Disclosures Required by Law or Otherwise Allowed Without Authorization or Notification: 

The following disclosures of health information may be made according to state and federal law without your written authorization or verbal agreement:

• When a disclosure is required by federal, state or local law, judicial or administrative proceedings, or for law enforcement.  Examples would be reporting gunshot wounds or child abuse or responding to court orders.
• For public health purposes, such as reporting information about births, deaths and various diseases, or disclosures to the FDA regarding an adverse effect related to food, medicine or devices.
• For health oversight activities, such as audits, inspections or licensure investigations.
• To organ procurement organizations for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.
• For research purposes, when the research has been approved by an institutional review board has reviewed the research proposal and established guidelines to provide for the privacy of your health information.
• To coroners and funeral directors for the purpose of identification, the determination of the cause of death, or to perform their duties as authorized by law.
• To avoid a serious threat to health or safety of a person or the public.
• For specific government functions such as protection of the President of the United States;
• To military command authorities as required for members of the armed forces;
• To authorize federal officials for national security and intelligence activities as authorized by the law;
• To correctional institutions or law enforcement officials concerning the health information of inmates, as authorized by the law.
• Contacting you to provide appointment reminders for treatment or medical care as well as to recommend treatment alternatives, notifying you of health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

 

Behavioral Health Informed Consent

I understand that I may have a behavioral health condition that may require treatment.

I consent to the proposed evaluation and/or treatment provided at Buffington Family Medicine. I understand that the services available to me may include but are not limited to:

• Evaluation
• Diagnosis
• Treatment planning
• Individual and group counseling
• Medication
• Education
• Discharge planning and referral

I understand how the services are provided. When possible, my behavioral health provider will discuss other treatment options with me. This could include referrals to other providers, alcohol and/or drug treatment, information on community resources, or other options.

Risks and Benefits

I understand that there are potential risks and benefits of participating in a program for behavioral health treatment.

Benefits may include but are not limited to:

• Improved quality of life
• Fewer psychological symptoms
• Reduced health risks and medical problems
• Improved family, social and employment relationships

Risks may include but are not limited to:

• Medication related side-effects
• Anxiety related to making life changes
• Effects on personal relationships
• Others’ negative perceptions about mental health treatment.

There are some likely consequences of not receiving behavioral health treatment. These may include but are not limited to:

• Psychological distress
• Decreased life satisfaction
• Impaired employment
• A negative impact on relationships.

Privacy Rights

Your right to privacy is important to us. State and federal laws and our high ethical standards require that we keep patients’ health information confidential. Laws also limit the ways we can use and share that information. Information about your behavioral health condition(s) and/or treatment may be shared with other Buffington Family Medicine or outside health care providers involved in your care as necessary for your continuing treatment. Your physical and mental health affect each other; sharing information with all your health care providers allows them to best meet your health needs. Buffington Family Medicine may also share information as necessary for purposes of payment and health care operations, and as otherwise allowed by state and federal law. More details about how Buffington Family Medicine may use and share your health information is contained in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

I understand my rights, including my right to withdraw my consent in writing at any time. I have been offered a copy of those rights. I have read and understand all the information given to me. I have been given enough time to ask questions or get more information and to get answers to my questions. The risks and benefits of the treatment and other treatment options have been made clear to me. I have been told what may happen if I do not have treatment. The information provided to me is specific, accurate and complete.

I consent to evaluation and treatment at Buffington Family Medicine. This consent expires 15 months from the date of my signature below, upon my discharge or when I give written notice that my consent is terminated (if earlier than 15 months from the date of my signature). I may request and receive a copy of this consent.

 

Required Uses and Disclosures: 

Under the law we must make disclosures when required by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with federal privacy law.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Authorization: 

Any other uses or disclosures of your health information not addressed in this Notice or otherwise required by law will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke such authorization at any time.

Privacy: 

I authorize Buffington Family Medicine to communicate my health information to the person(s) that I listed above (under Privacy) for the following purposes: to discuss my health care, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plans. This authorization also applies to discussing billing and payment for medical services provided by Buffington Family Medicine.

I understand that this authorization applies to all healthcare providers and/or employees at Buffington Family Medicine. I understand that this authorization is voluntary. I understand that once this information is disclosed to Designated Person(s), it may be re-disclosed by them and may no longer be protected by state or federal privacy laws. I understand that this authorization will be effective for this office visit, unless revoked by me, and for one year following my death. I further understand that I may revoke this authorization at any time. If I revoke this authorization, it will not have any effect on any actions taken by Buffington Family Medicine prior to the processing of the revocation. I understand that my refusal to sign this authorization will not negatively affect my health care services at Buffington Family Medicine.

You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. This complaint may be addressed to the Privacy Contact listed in this Notice, or to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for registering a complaint.

Privacy Contact - Address any questions about this Notice or how to exercise your privacy rights to the applicable Privacy Officer Cyndi Dronette

Effective Date - February 1, 2009

Phone: (817) 431-9199

On-Time Policy: 

At Buffington Family Medicine we believe your time is as valuable as ours. In order to better serve you and to keep you from having to wait longer than what is absolutely necessary, we ask you to please check in 15 minutes prior to your appointment. If you are more than 20 minutes late for your check in time you may be asked to reschedule.  This will allow us to keep everyone’s appointments on time and keep you from having the long wait times that have become standard practice in most physician’s offices.  We will do our best, however, to accommodate everyone.

Cancellation/No Show Policy: 

Buffington Family Medicine requires a 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If a 24-hour notice is not provided, your appointment will be considered a No-Show.

• New patients will NOT be rescheduled if they miss their new patient appointment without 24 hours notice.
• Established patients will be released from the practice after three No Shows within 24 months.
• We do not charge for No Shows because our intention is not to punish patients. However, we have other patients who need to be seen in a timely manner and we believe that three No Shows in 24 months shows a pattern of disregard for other patients and staff. In these cases, we will need to ask patients to find another provider.

Prescription Refill Policy: 

Prescription refills can take up to 48 to 72 business hours.  We will do our best to accommodate your requests more quickly, however, especially in urgent situations.

Financial Policy: 

Payment for services is always due at the time services are rendered.

For scheduled appointments, prior balances must be paid in full prior to the visit. Appointments may be rescheduled if this is not possible.  We will, however, work with you to make payment arrangements if necessary.  It is your responsibility to provide us with the correct insurance information for filing claims. Inaccurate or untimely information given to the staff that results in denial or non‐coverage by your insurance company will cause you to be responsible for payment. It is also your responsibility to understand your benefits and what is covered. While Dr. Buffington and his staff will do their best to help you understand your insurance and the benefits it provides, you are ultimately responsible for anything your insurance refuses to cover.

General Consent for Treatment: 

Any balance outstanding longer than 90 days will be forwarded to our collection agency. We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards. A $35 NSF fee will be charged for any checks returned for insufficient funds and you will be responsible for the remainder. On occasion the primary insurance will not pay without the secondary insurance also paying and, in those cases, you will be responsible for the entire amount.

Assignment of Benefits: 

I have requested medical services from Buffington Family Medicine for myself and/or my necessary dependent(s). I give permission to Buffington Family Medicine to examine and treat myself and/or my dependent, as they deem necessary. 

I authorize Buffington Family Medicine to release any information necessary to my insurance carrier(s) to process medical claims. I assign all insurance benefits to be paid directly to Buffington Family Medicine. A photocopy of this assignment is to be considered as valid as the original.