Effective Date: June 23, 2017

Your information. Your rights. Our responsibility. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information. Please review the policy carefully.


Other Uses and Disclosures

We may use and share your information as we:

  • treat you;
  • bill for your services;
  • run our organization;
  • help with public health and safety issues;
  • do research;
  • comply with the law;
  • address worker’s compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests; and/or
  • respond to lawsuits and legal actions.

Your Choices

You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we:

  • send appointment reminders;
  • include you in a membership directory;
  • provide other YMCA services;
  • market our services; and
  • raise funds.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • get a copy of your paper or electronic health record;
  • correct your paper or electronic health record;
  • request confidential communication;
  • ask us to limit the information we share;
  • get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information;
  • get a copy of this privacy notice;
  • choose someone to act for you; and
  • file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

When This Notice Applies

YMCA is a “hybrid entity,” meaning that not every part of our organization is required to follow this document. This Notice applies to your health information when it is used or shared by the part of YMCA that acts as a health care provider.

How YMCA May Use and/or Share Your Health Information

Except where prohibited by federal or state laws that require special privacy protections, YMCA may share your health information without your authorization for the following purposes. Below, YMCA has provided examples of certain purposes; however, not every permissible use or disclosure is listed in this Notice.

Treatment Purposes

YMCA may use or share your health information to provide and coordinate treatment and other healthcare services you receive. For example, YMCA may disclose your health information to doctors and other personnel involved in your health care. YMCA may also disclose your health information to third parties whom YMCA uses to provide certain chronic disease preventive services to you.

Payment

YMCA may use or share your health information to bill for the services you receive at YMCA and to collect payment from you, an insurance company, or another third party. For example, YMCA may need to give your health plan information about services you receive at YMCA so your health plan will pay YMCA. YMCA may also tell your health plan about a service you are going to receive to determine whether your plan will cover the service. We may share your information with other entities for their payment purposes.

Healthcare Options

YMCA may use or share your health information for YMCA operations, to improve your care and to contact you when necessary. For example, YMCA may use or disclose your health information (1) to conduct quality assessment and improvement activities; (2) to evaluate the performance of staff providing services to you; (3) to manage, plan or develop YMCA’s services and budget; (4) to create or provide individualized services; or (5) to cooperate with private and federal auditors. We may share health information with other entities for their health care operations and other lawful purposes. We may share health information with other entities for their health care operations and other lawful purposes.

Appointment Reminders and Health Service Alternatives

YMCA may contact you to remind you of appointments or to provide information about other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you or your family.

Public Health and Safety Issues

YMCA may share health information about you with public health authorities for public health activities such as: preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability; tracking and maintaining vital records; avoiding a serious threat to health or safety of a person or the public; and reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to governmental or social services agencies. YMCA may also share your health information with a governmental agency authorized to oversee government health care programs.

Research

YMCA may use or share your information for health research in limited circumstances where the information will be protected by the researchers.

Philanthropy

As permitted by applicable law, YMCA may contact you to raise funds to sustain the YMCA mission, but you may contact us and request not to receive any future fundraising communications. YMCA does not engage in selling or renting of health information.

As Required by Law

YMCA will share your health information when required by state or federal law or to comply with such laws.

Workers’ Compensation, Law Enforcement and other Government Requests

YMCA may use or share information about you:

  • for worker’s compensation claims or similar programs established by law;
  • to a law enforcement official or correctional institution for law enforcement and health and safety purposes or to report certain crimes; and
  • for special government functions, such as military, national security, and presidential protective services.

Health Oversight Activities

YMCA may share health information about you to an oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections, and credentialing, as necessary for licensure and for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs and compliance with civil rights laws.

Lawsuits and Legal Actions

YMCA may share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena, or when a protective order is in place.

Disclosure to Business Associates

There are some health-related services provided through contracts with third parties, called “business associates,” that may need the information to perform certain services on our behalf. Examples include software or technology vendors we may utilize to provide technical support, attorneys providing legal services to us, accountants, consultants, billing and collection companies, and others. When such a service is contracted, we may share your protected health information with such business associates and may allow our business associates to create, receive, maintain or transmit your information on our behalf in order for the business associate to provide services to us, or for the proper management and administration of the business associate. Business associates must protect any health information they receive from, or create and maintain on our behalf. In addition, business associates may re-disclose your health information for their own proper management and administration, to fulfill their legal responsibilities, and to business associates that are subcontractors in order for the subcontractors to provide services to the business associate. The subcontractors will be subject to the same restrictions and conditions that apply to the business associate. Whenever such an arrangement involves the use or disclosure of your information to our business associate, we will have a written contract with our business associate that contains terms designed to protect the privacy of your information.

De-identified Information

We may use or disclose your health information to create de-identified information or limited data sets, and may use and disclose such information as permitted by law.

Other Activities

We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

Other Uses of Health Information that Require Your Authorization

Specific Uses and Disclosures Requiring Authorization

YMCA must obtain your written authorization for the use or disclosure of psychotherapy notes, use or disclosure of your health information for marketing, and for sale, except in limited circumstances where applicable law allows such uses or disclosure without your authorization.

Other Uses and Disclosures

YMCA must obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for purposes other than those described in this Notice or otherwise permitted by law. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Upon receipt of the written revocation, YMCA will stop using or disclosing your health information, except to the extent that YMCA has already taken action in reliance on the authorization.

Our Responsibilities

  • YMCA is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your health information.
  • YMCA will notify you as required by law when there is a breach of your unsecured protected health information. In some circumstances, another entity may provide the notification to you on behalf of YMCA.
  • YMCA may use e-mail to inform you of a breach if you have provided YMCA with a current e-mail address and you have agreed to receive the breach notice electronically. YMCA also may provide notification to you by other methods if appropriate.
  • YMCA must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and provide a copy of it, when requested.
  • YMCA will not use or share your information for any purposes not described in this Notice without your written permission. If you do authorize YMCA to use or disclose your health information, in most cases, you may revoke your written authorization at any time. Your revocation will be effective from the date YMCA receives the revocation.

Your Health Information Rights

This section explains your rights and some of YMCA’s responsibilities with respect to your health information.

Obtain a Copy of Your Health Records

You may ask YMCA to view or have YMCA send you a paper or electronic copy of your health records and other health information. YMCA will provide you with a copy or summary of your health information. However, safety or other legal reasons may limit the information you may see. YMCA may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies requested.

Amend Your Health Records

You may ask YMCA to change health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. YMCA may not make the changes or additions if YMCA believes the information is accurate or complete, or for other reasons. If YMCA does not agree to change your information, YMCA will provide you with a written explanation within 60 days of receiving your request. Any request you make to change your information, and YMCA’s response, will be noted in your record.

Communicate Confidentially

You may request in writing that YMCA communicate with you by a reasonable means or at a reasonable alternative location. For example, you may request that YMCA communicate with you by e-mail rather than by telephone, or at home instead of the office. YMCA will agree to all reasonable requests.

Restrict the Use and Disclosure of Your Health Information

You may ask YMCA to not use or share certain health information for treatment, payment or certain YMCA operations. Your request must be in writing and state the restriction(s) you would like. YMCA will consider your request but is not required to agree to it, and YMCA may say “no” if it would negatively affect your care. If you pay for a service or item out-of-pocket in full, you may request that YMCA not share that information with your health insurance company for the purpose of payment or for YMCA operations. YMCA will agree to your request unless a law requires YMCA to share that information.

List of Persons Who Received Your Health Information

You may ask YMCA for a list of the times YMCA shared your information with others in the six years prior to the date of your request, who YMCA shared the information with, and why the information was shared. You must make your request in writing. The law does not require YMCA to list every situation in which YMCA shared your information. For example: Except if required by regulation, YMCA does not have to list the times when it shared your information for treatment, payment, or health care operations, or when YMCA shared your information pursuant to an authorization signed by you or your representative. YMCA will provide you with one accounting per year for free, but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you request another accounting within 12 months.

Request a Copy of this Privacy Notice

You are entitled to a paper copy of this Notice at any time.

Choose Someone to Act on Your Behalf

You may give someone medical power of attorney or a legal guardian may be appointed for you to exercise your rights and make choices about your health. Before YMCA takes any action, YMCA will confirm the person has this authority and can act on your behalf.

File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated by YMCA, you have the right to complain to YMCA or to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You may file a complaint with the YMCA’s Privacy Officer, within 180 days of the suspected violation, at the address at the end of this Notice. You also may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. YMCA will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint with either YMCA or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Your Choices

If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions if feasible or required by law. In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

  • Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
  • Share information in disaster relief situations
  • Include your information in a facility directory

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example, if you are unconscious or unavailable, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may share certain information after you have died.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this Notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

Other State and Federal Laws

To comply with Florida law, we may ask you for consent to share certain medical information for some of the purposes explained in this Notice. For example, we may ask for your consent to share your information for payment purposes. We may also ask for your consent to share certain sensitive information that may have extra protection under state or federal laws. For example, we may ask for your written authorization to disclose information we receive from certain substance use disorder facilities.

To request additional copies of this Notice or to receive more information about YMCA’s privacy practices or your rights, please contact us by email or via letter at: 

Compliance Office
YMCA of Central Florida
433 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803