Notice of Privacy Practices

As you know, in order to provide you with patient care services offered by Lighthouse Services LLC and/or its affiliates (“Lighthouse Services,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), we must collect, create, and maintain information about you and your health. This Notice of Privacy Practices (this “Notice”) describes how protected health information about you may be used and disclosed. Protected health information (“PHI”) includes information regarding your past, present or future health care services or payment for such services that can be used to identify you. For example, information you provide us when scheduling your service, providing your medical history or receiving services from us is considered protected health information.

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.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of this information and to provide you with this Notice. We will comply with the terms as stated. If there is a breach of your unsecured health information, we will notify you in accordance with federal and state law.

Information we may collect from you that is not considered protected health information, such as that you visited our website but never scheduled or received any services from us, may not be considered protected health information and our use and disclosure of that information is discussed in our Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions, please contact our Privacy team at privacy@freedomcareny.com or 866-845-6009.

How We Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We protect your protected health information from inappropriate use and disclosure. We will use and disclose your health information only for the purposes listed below.

1. Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations (Without Authorization)

Treatment and Care Management – We may use and disclose health information about you to facilitate treatment provided to you by other health care providers, your caregivers, and us.
Payment – We may use and disclose health information about you in order to get paid for the services we provide to you or to assist your caregiver in getting paid for the care they provide you.
Health Care Operations – We may use and disclose health information about you for quality improvement, care management, audits, and complaint resolution.
Appointments and Services – We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment or other health-related services that may be of interest to you.

2. Other Uses and Disclosures Without Authorization

We may also use and disclose your health information without your specific written authorization for the following purposes:

As Required by Law – When disclosure is required by federal, state, or local law.
Public Health Activities – Such as reporting diseases or responding to public health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19).
Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence – When required or permitted by law.
Health Oversight Activities – For audits, investigations, or inspections by oversight agencies.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings – In response to a court order or subpoena.
Law Enforcement Purposes – As required or permitted by law.
Deceased Individuals – To a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director.
Organ, Eye, or Tissue Donation – For procurement, banking, or transplantation.
Research – If approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or permitted by law.
To Prevent or Lessen Serious Threats – To protect health or safety.
Specialized Government Functions – Such as military, national security, or lawful intelligence activities.
Workers’ Compensation – As permitted under workers’ compensation laws.
Business Associates – To contractors who perform services for us, provided they agree to safeguard your information.
Individuals Involved in Your Care – Family members, relatives, or close friends, if you agree or do not object.

3. Special Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Records

Health information from federally assisted alcohol or drug treatment programs is given special protection and will not be disclosed without your authorization, except as allowed by law.

4. Other State Laws

If your state provides additional protections to certain health information, we will comply with those laws.

5. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization

Marketing – We will not use your health information for marketing without your authorization.
Sale of Information – We will not sell your health information without your authorization.

6. Special Protections for Reproductive Health Information

We will never use or disclose your health information for:

Investigating or prosecuting you for seeking, obtaining, providing, or facilitating reproductive health care.
Imposing criminal, civil, or administrative penalties for such activities.
Identifying you for any of the above purposes.

We will only disclose reproductive health information for oversight, legal, or law enforcement purposes if we receive a valid attestation stating that the request is not related to prohibited purposes.

7. Authorization for Other Uses and Disclosures

For any other purpose not listed here, we will request your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information. You may revoke this authorization at any time in writing.

8. Potential for Redisclosure

Once your information is disclosed to another person or entity, it may no longer be protected by this Notice.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to Inspect and Copy – You may request copies of your health information, usually within 30 days. A reasonable fee may apply.
Right to Request Amendments – You may request corrections to your records if you believe they are inaccurate or incomplete.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures – You may request a list of certain disclosures made within the past six years.
Right to Request Restrictions – You may ask us to limit the use or disclosure of your information, although we may not be required to agree.
Right to Request Confidential Communications – You may request we contact you by alternative means or at alternative locations.
Right to Paper Copy – You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our Privacy Official or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Changes to This Notice

We may update this Notice from time to time. Updated versions will apply to all information we maintain and will be posted on our website www.lighthouseservices19.org within 60 days of the effective date.