WHAT IS PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION?

Protected Health Information (PHI) is information created or received by AAMG that identifies an individual applying for or enrolled in a health benefits program in which AAMG is a provider. PHI includes the person's participation in the program, the person's past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of health care to that person, and payment for the provision of health care to that person. PHI does not include publicly available information or information that is available or reported in a summarized or aggregate fashion that does not identify any person.

The following are ways we may use or share information about you:

• We may use the information to help pay your medical bills that have been submitted to us by doctors and hospitals for payment.

• We may share your information with your doctors or hospitals to help them provide medical care for you. For example, if you are in the hospital, we may give them access to any medical records sent to us by your doctor.

• We may use or share your information with others to help manage your health care. For example, we might talk to your doctor to suggest a disease management or wellness program that could help improve your health.

• We may share your information with others who help us conduct our business operations. For example, we may contract with a disease management company to offer services to improve our health status. We will not share your information with these outside companies unless they agree to keep it protected.

• We may use or share your information for certain types of public health or disaster relief efforts.

• We may use or share your information to send you a reminder if you have an appointment with your doctor.

• We may use or share your information to give you information about alternative medical treatments and programs or about health-related products and services that you may be interested in. For example, we might send you information about smoking cessation or weight-loss programs.

• We may use or share your information with an employee benefit plan through which you receive health benefits. We will not share detailed health information with your benefit plan unless they promise to keep it protected.
  There are also state and federal laws that may require us to release your health information to others. We may be required to provide information for the following reasons:

• We may report information to state and federal agencies that regulate us, such as the US Department of Health and Human Services and the California Department of Managed Health Care.

• We may share information for public health activities. For example, we may report information to the Food and Drug Administration for investigation or tracking of prescription drug and medical device problems.

• We may report information to public health agencies if we believe there is a serious health or safety threat.

• We may share information with a health oversight agency for certain oversight activities (for example, audits, inspections, licensure, and disciplinary actions.)

• We may provide information to a court or administrative agency (for example, pursuant to court order, search warrant, or subpoena).

• We may report information for law enforcement purposes. For example, we may give information to a law enforcement official for purposes of identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person.

• We may report information to a government authority regarding child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

• We may share information with a coroner or medical examiner to identify a deceased person, determine a cause of death, or as authorized by law. We may also share information with a funeral director as necessary to carry out their duties.

• We may use or share information for procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs, eyes, or tissue.

• We may share information relative to specialized government functions, such as military and veteran activities, national security and intelligence activities, and protective services for the President and others.

• We may report information on job-related injuries because of the requirements of your state worker compensation laws.
  If one of the above reasons does not apply, we must get your written permission to use or disclose your health information. If you give us written permission and change your mind, you may revoke your written permission at any time.

EXERCISING YOUR RIGHTS

You have a right to receive a copy of this notice upon request at any time. You can also view a copy of the notice on our web site. Should any of our privacy practices change, we reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and to make the new notice effective for all protected health information we maintain. Once revised, we will provide the new notice to you upon request and post it on our website.

If you have any questions about this notice or about how we use of share information, please contact AAMG Compliance Officer at (415) 216-0088. That office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.