Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
(HIPAA)

Privacy Officer
Baltimore County Department of Health (BCDH)
Drumcastle Government Center
6401 York Road, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD  21212- 2130

Safeguarding Your Protected Health Information

The Baltimore County Department of Health is committed to protecting your health information. BCDH is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information, and to follow the privacy practices described herein. BCDH reserves the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, and to apply the provisions of the revised notice to your health information that we obtained before revising the Notice. If this occurs, we will mail you a copy of the revised Notice at the most recent address we have for you. You may obtain a copy of the BCDH Notice currently in effect by calling 410-887-2077.

To Report a Problem about Our Privacy Practices

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint.

• You can file a complaint with the Privacy Officer by contacting:
  Phone: 410-887-2077
  E-mail: privacyofficer@baltimorecountymd.gov
• You can file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
  Office of Civil Rights. You may call the County's Privacy Officer for the contact information. 

BCDH will take no retaliatory action against you if you make such complaints.

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Notice Of Privacy Practices
 
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. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice and/or an electronic copy by email upon request. This notice is effective on April 14, 2003.

You have a right to

• Request restrictions: You have a right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information BCDH uses or discloses about you. BCDH may accommodate your request, if possible, but is not legally required to agree to the requested restriction. If BCDH agrees to a restriction, BCDH will follow it except in emergency situations.
• Request confidential communications: You have the right to ask that BCDH send you information at an alternative address or by alternative means. BCDH must agree to your request as long as it is reasonable for us to do so.
• Inspect and copy: You have a right to review your health information upon a written request. If you want copies of your health information, you may be charged a fee for copying. You have a right to choose what portions of your information you want copied and to have prior information on the cost of copying. To view or obtain a copy of your health information, you may contact the Privacy Officer.
• Request amendment: You may request in writing that BCDH correct or add to your health record. BCDH may deny the request if BCDH determines that the health information is: (1) correct and complete; (2) not created by us and/or not part of our records; or (3) not permitted to be disclosed. If BCDH approves the request for amendment, BCDH will change the health information and inform you, and will inform others that need to know about the change in health information.
• Accounting of disclosures: You have a right to request a list of the disclosures made of your health information after April 14, 2003. Exceptions are health information that has been used for treatment, payment, and operations. In addition, BCDH does not have to list disclosures made to you, based on your written authorization, provided for national security, to law enforcement officials, or correctional facilities. There will be no charge for up to one such list each year.

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Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information
 
BCDH employees will only use your health information when doing their jobs. For use and disclosures beyond those described in this Notice, BCDH must have your written authorization. If you give such authorization you may revoke it by notifying the Privacy Officer at the address listed at the end of this section. This revocation shall apply except where we have already used or disclosed information in accordance with the authorization. The following are some examples of our possible uses and disclosures of your health information.

For Treatment

BCDH may use or share your health information to provide treatment or arrange for health related services. Some examples are:

• provide a screening, examination or immunization at a clinic
• make a home visit to assess your needs or provide nursing care
• provide case management services by phone to oversee and coordinate your care
• arrange for services from various county, state or private organizations
• arrange for transportation to a medical appointment

To Obtain Payment or Make Arrangements for Payment of a Health Service

BCDH may use and share your health information in order to obtain an authorization from your insurance company or to submit a health care claim. We may also coordinate health insurance benefits between insurance carriers. In certain cases, we may pay for certain medications or other supplies or services. 

For Health Care Operations

BCDH may use and share your health information to evaluate the quality of services we provide and to help maintain the high quality of those services. For example, we may use your information to evaluate our treatment and services which have been provided. We may combine health information about many individuals to research health trends, to determine what services should be offered, or for other similar uses. We may also share your health information with state or federal auditors, as required by law or regulation. 

Other Uses and Disclosures Required or Allowed by Law

Public Health Authority

BCDH operates as a Public Health Authority as well as a health care provider. In our role as a Public Health Authority, we may use your health information to investigate and track diseases as required by law. This function is exempt from HIPAA requirements.

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Information Purposes

Unless you provide us with alternative instructions, BCDH may send appointment reminders and other materials about the particular program to your home.

Required by Law

BCDH may disclose health information when a state or federal law requires us to do so.

Public Health Activities

BCDH may disclose health information when BCDH is required to collect or report information about disease or injury, or to report vital statistics to other divisions in the department and other public health authorities.

Health Oversight Activities

BCDH may disclose your health information to other divisions in the department and other agencies for oversight activities required by law. Examples of these oversight activities are audits, inspections, investigations, and licensure. 

Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donations

BCDH may disclose health information relating to a death to coroners, medical examiners or funeral directors, and to authorized organizations relating to organ, eye, or tissue donations or transplants.

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Research Purposes

In certain circumstances, and under supervision of our Institutional Review Board or other designated privacy board, BCDH may disclose health information to assist medical research.

Avert Threat to Health or Safety

In order to avoid a serious threat to health or safety, BCDH may disclose health information as necessary to law enforcement or other persons who can reasonably prevent or lessen the threat of harm.

Abuse and Neglect

BCDH will disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or some other crime. BCDH may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others.

Specific Government Functions

BCDH may disclose health information of military personnel and veterans in certain situations, to correctional facilities in certain situations, to government benefit programs relating to eligibility and enrollment, and for national security reasons, such as protection of the President.

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Families, Friends, or Others Involved in Your Care

BCDH may share your health information with people as it is directly related to their involvement in your care or payment of your care. BCDH may also share health information with people to notify them about your location, general condition, or death.

Worker's Compensation

BCDH may disclose health information to worker's compensation programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses without regard to fault.

Patient Directories

BCDH does not maintain a patient directory.

Lawsuits, Disputes, and Claims

If you are involved in a lawsuit, a dispute, or a claim, BCDH may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, investigation of a claim filed on your behalf, or other lawful process.

Law Enforcement

BCDH may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes that are required by law or in response to a subpoena.

Effective Date of this Notice: April 14, 2003

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Revised February 9, 2007