HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

III. Other circumstances where we may use or disclose your health information:

As required by law: In general, we will attempt to ensure that you have been made aware of the use or disclosure of your health information prior to providing it to another person.

For public health purposes: We may use or disclose your health information to provide information to state or federal public health authorities, as required by law, to prevent or control disease, injury or disability. For example, your immunization records may be included and accessed in the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA – SIIS) maintained by the PA Department of Health. We may also use or disclose your health information to report child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, certain diseases or infection exposure, problems with products, and reactions to medications to the Food and Drug Administration.

For Health Information Exchanges: As a member of HealthShare Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc., (HSX), we may use or disclose your Personal Health Information to this Health Information Organization (HIO) and also to the HIO of the Commonwealth, The Pennsylvania Patient and Provider Network (P3N) . Other health care providers, such as physicians, hospitals and other health care facilities, may have access to this information for treatment, payment and other purposes, to the extent permitted by law. You have the right to “opt-out” or decline to participate in the Health Information Exchange (HIE). If you choose to opt-out of the HIE, we will not use or disclose any of your information in connection with HSX or P3N.

In response to subpoenas or judicial and administrative proceedings: We may use or disclose your health information in the course of any administrative or judicial proceeding.

To law enforcement personnel: We may use or disclose your health information to a law enforcement official to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person, comply with a court order or subpoena and other law enforcement purposes.

To coroners or funeral directors: We may use or disclose your health information for purposes of communicating with coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors.

For purposes of organ donation: We may use or disclose your health information for purposes of communication with organizations involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues, when you have made this choice known.

To business associates: Certain aspects of our services are performed through contracts with outside vendors. At times, it may be necessary for us to provide certain health information to one or more of these entities. In such cases, we require these business associates to appropriately safeguard the privacy of your information.

For public safety: We may use or disclose your health information in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular person or the general public.

To aid specialized government functions: If necessary, we may use or disclose your health information for military or national security purposes.

For workers’ compensation: We may use or disclose your health information as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.

To correctional institutions or law enforcement officials, if you are an inmate.

Confidentiality of drug and alcohol, HIV-related, psychotherapy notes, and mental health records: The confidentiality of these types of records may be further protected by Federal and/ or State law. Generally, we may not disclose such information unless you consent in writing, or the disclosure is allowed by court order, subpoena, or other applicable exception.