Patient Privacy Practices

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal program that requires all medical/dental records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, are kept properly confidential. This Act gives you, the patient, significant rights to understand and control how your health information is used. HIPAA provides penalties to covered entities that misuse personal health information.

Bearable Dentistry may use and disclose your medical records for each of the following purposes:

• TREATMENT means providing, coordinating or managing health care and related services by one or more health care providers. This includes exchanging information with referring offices.
• PAYMENT applies to such activities as obtaining payment or reimbursement for services, billing or collection activities and utilization review.
• HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS include managing your Electronic Medical Record to facilitate diagnostic medical consultations with participating physicians, dentists, oral surgeons and associated facilities. It also includes conducting quality assessment and improvement activities, auditing functions, cost-management analysis and customer service.

We may contact you to provide information about our services or other health-related services that may be of interest to you.

You have the right to ask for restrictions on the ways we use and disclose your helath information for treatment, payment and health care operations. You may also request that we limit our disclosures to persons assisting your care. We will consider your request, but are not required to accept it.

You have the right to request that you receive communications containing your protected health information from us by alternative means or at alternative locations. For example, you may ask that we only contact you at home or by mail.

If you believe that information in your records is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to ask us to correct the existing information or add missing information. Under certain circumstances we may deny your request, such as when the information is accurate and complete.

A summary of the Bearable Dentistry PLLC Privacy Practices is offered to every new patient and is available to anyone requesting a copy. Please report any concerns to the Bearable Dentistry Office Manager.