PARADIGM HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES – PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

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.

The terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices – Protected Health Information (“Notice”) applies to Protected Health Information (defined below) associated with services provided by Paradigm Health Services, Inc. (collectively, “we,” “our,” or “Paradigm).  This Notice describes how Paradigm Health Services, Inc. may use and disclose Protected Health Information to carry out payment, treatment and health care operations, and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law.

We are required by privacy regulations issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act if 1996 (“HIPAA”) to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information and to provide our patients with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices concerning Protected Health Information.  In the event applicable law, other than HIPAA, prohibits or materially limits our uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information, as set forth below, we will restrict our uses or disclosure of your Protected Health Information in accordance with the more stringent standard.  We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice so long as it remains in effect.   We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices as necessary and to make the new Notice effective for all Protected Health Information maintained by us.  If we make material changes to our privacy practices, we will mail copies of revised notices to all patients who are then part of our practice.  Copies of our current Notice may be obtained by contacting Paradigm at the telephone number or address below, or on our Web site at www.paradigmhealth.com.

I.                    Definitions

Protected Health Information (“PHI”) means individually identifiable health information, as defined by HIPAA, that is created or received by Paradigm and that relates to the past, present, or future mental health or condition of an individual; the provision of health care to an individual; or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual; and that identifies the individual or for which there is a reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify the individual.  PHI includes information of persons living or deceased.

Psychotherapy notes means notes recorded (in any medium) by a health care provider who is a mental health professional documenting or analyzing the contents of conversation during a private counseling session or a group, joint, or family counseling session and that are separated from the rest of the individual’s medical record.

Psychotherapy notes excludes medication prescription and monitoring, counseling session start and stop times, the modalities and frequencies of treatment furnished, results of clinical tests, and any summary of the following items: diagnosis, functional status, the treatment plan, symptoms, prognosis, and progress to date.  HIPAA affords special privacy protections of psychotherapy notes and requires specific authorization to release such notes.

II.        Uses and Disclosures of Your Protected Health Information

The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose PHI.  For each category of uses and disclosures we will explain what we mean and, where appropriate, provide examples for illustrative purposes.  Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed.  However, all of the ways we are permitted or required to use and disclose PHI will fall within one of the categories.

            A.                 Your Authorization

Except as outlined below, we will not use or disclose your PHI unless you have signed a form authorizing the use or disclosure.  You have the right to revoke that authorization in writing except to the extent that we have taken action in reliance upon the authorization or that the authorization was obtained as a condition of treatment.

            B.        Uses and Disclosures for Payment

We may make requests, uses and disclosures of your PHI as necessary for payment purposes.  For example, we may use information regarding your treatment to process and submit claims. 

C.                   Uses and Disclosures for Health Care Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI as necessary for our health care operations.  Examples of health care operations include compliance, auditing, rating, business management, quality improvement and assurance, and other functions related to your treatment delivery.

D.                  Family and Friends Involved in Your Care

If you are available and do not object, we may disclose your PHI to your family, friends and others who are involved in your care or payment of a claim.  If you are unavailable or incapacitated and we determine that a limited disclosure is in your best interest, we may share limited PHI with such individuals.  For example, we may use our professional judgment to disclose PHI to your spouse concerning the processing of a claim.  We will always apply the “Minimum Necessary Rule” when disclosing PHI, which requires that when using, disclosing or requesting protected health information, we must make reasonable efforts to limit protected health information to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose of the use, disclosure, or request. If you do not wish Paradigm to share PHI with your spouse or others, you may exercise your right to request restriction on Paradigm’s disclosures of you PHI (see below).

E.                   Business Associates

Certain aspects and components of our services are performed through contracts with outside persons or organizations.  Examples of these outside persons and organizations include our vendors and payer sources that help us process your treatment and treatment operations.  At times it may be necessary for us to provide certain of your PHI to one or more of these outside persons or organizations.

F.                   Other Uses and Disclosures

We may make certain other uses and disclosures of your PHI without your authorization.

(a)  We may use or disclose your PHI for any purpose required by law.  For example, Paradigm may be required by law to use or disclose your PHI to respond to a court order.

(b)  We may disclose your PHI for public health activities, such as reporting of disease, injury, birth and death, and for public health investigations.

(c)  We may disclose your PHI to the proper authorities if we suspect abuse or neglect; we may also disclose your PHI ifwe believe you to be a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

(d)  We may disclose your PHI if authorized by law to a government oversight agency (e.g., a state insurance department) conducting audits, investigations, or civil or criminal proceedings.

(e)  We may disclose your PHI in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding (e.g., to respond to a subpoena or discovery request).

(f)   We may disclose your PHI to the proper authorities for law enforcement purposes.

(g)  We may disclose your PHI to coroners, medical examiners, and/or funeral directors consistent with law.

(h)  We may use or disclose your PHI for cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation.

(i)   We may use or disclose your PHI for research purposes, but only as permitted by law.

(j)   We may use or disclose PHI to avert a serious threat to health or safety.

(k)  We may use or disclose your PHI if you are a member of the military as required by armed forces services, and we may also disclose your PHI for other specialized government functions such as national security or intelligence activities.

(l)   We may disclose your PHI to workers’ compensation agencies for your workers’ compensation benefit determination.

(m) We will, if required by law, release your PHI to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for enforcement of HIPAA.

III.         Rights That You Have

            A.         Access to Your PHI

You have the right to copy and/or inspect certain of your PHI that we maintain.  Certain requests for access to your PHI must be in writing, must state that you want access to your PHI and must be signed by you or your representative (e.g., requests for medical records provided to us directly from your health care provider).  Access request forms are available from Paradigm at the address below.  We may charge you a fee for copying and postage.

B.                   Amendments to Your PHI

You have the right to request that PHI that we maintain about you be amended or corrected.  We are not obligated to make all requested amendments but will give each request careful consideration.  To be considered, your amendment request must be in writing, must be signed by you or your representative, and must state the reasons for the amendment/correction request.  Amendment request forms are available from Paradigm at the address below.

C.                   Accounting for Disclosures of Your PHI

You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures made by us of your PHI.  Examples of disclosures that we are required to account for include those to state insurance departments, pursuant to valid legal process, or for law enforcement purposes.  To be considered, your accounting requests must be in writing and signed by you or your representative.  Accounting request forms are available from Paradigm at the address below.  The first accounting in any 12-month period is free; however, we may charge you a fee for each subsequent accounting you request within the same 12-month period.

D.                  Restrictions on Use and Disclosure of Your PHI

You have the right to request restrictions on certain of our uses and disclosures of your PHI for billing or health care operations, disclosures made to persons involved in your care, and disclosures for disaster relief purposes.  For example, you may request that we not disclose your PHI to your spouse.  Your request must describe in detail the restriction you are requesting.  HIPAA does not require us to agree to your request but we will accommodate reasonable requests when appropriate.  We retain the right to terminate an agreed-to restriction if we believe such termination is appropriate.  In the event of a termination by us, we will notify you of such termination.  You also have the right to terminate, in writing or orally, any agreed-to restriction.  Requests for a restriction (or termination of an existing restriction) may be made by contacting Paradigm at the telephone number or address below.

E.                   Request for Confidential Communications

You have the right to request that communications regarding your PHI be made by alternative means or at alternative locations.  For example, you may request that messages not be left on voice mail or sent to a particular address.  We are required to accommodate reasonable requests if you inform us that disclosure of all or part of your information could place you in danger.  Requests for confidential communications must be in writing, signed by you or your representative, and sent to Paradigm at the address below.

F.                   Right to a Copy of the Notice

You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice upon request by contacting Paradigm at the telephone number or address below.

G.                   Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with Paradigm in writing at the address below.  You may also file a complaint in writing with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., within 180 days of a violation of your rights.  There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

IV.          For Further Information

If you have questions or need further assistance regarding this Notice, you may contact Paradigm’s Privacy Officer by writing to: Paradigm Health Services, Inc., Attn: Privacy Officer, 11701 South Belcher Road, Suite 111, Largo, FL  33773 or by calling 1-800-632-6074.

V.                 Effective Date

This Notice is effective April 14, 2003.