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. It applies to Texas Cancer Specialists, our physicians and our staff at both centers, and to anyone working on our behalf under a written agreement that binds them to the same rules.
How we may use and share your health information
For treatment. We use your health information to plan and deliver your care, and we share it with the other doctors, nurses and professionals involved in treating you, including the physician who referred you and any specialist we refer you to.
For payment. We use and share your information to bill for the care you receive and to collect payment from you, your health plan or another responsible party. That can include confirming your coverage and obtaining prior authorization for a treatment.
For health care operations. We use your information to run the practice, improve the quality of care, train staff, review the performance of our clinicians, and carry out audits and compliance work.
Other ways we may use or share it without your written permission
To contact you with appointment reminders, and to tell you about treatment options or services that may be relevant to your care.
With family members, friends or others involved in your care or in paying for it, unless you tell us not to. If you are not able to tell us, we will use our professional judgment about what is in your best interest.
When the law requires it, including reporting to public health authorities about disease, injury, births and deaths, reporting adverse reactions to medicines or medical devices, and reporting suspected abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
To prevent a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.
For health oversight activities such as audits, inspections, investigations and licensing, carried out by the agencies that supervise the health care system.
For research, where a review board has approved the study and set rules to protect your privacy, or where the information has had everything that could identify you removed.
In response to a court or administrative order, or in some cases a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process, when the required protections are in place.
To law enforcement in limited circumstances defined by law, to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors, and to organ and tissue donation organizations.
For workers' compensation claims, for specialized government functions such as military and national security activities, and to a correctional institution if you are in its custody.
Uses that need your written permission
We will not use or share your information for marketing, sell it, or share psychotherapy notes without your written authorization. Any use or disclosure not described in this notice also needs your written authorization.
You can cancel an authorization at any time by telling us in writing. Cancelling stops any further use or sharing, but it cannot undo anything we did while the authorization was in force.
Your rights
To see and get a copy of your record. You can ask to inspect or receive a copy of your medical and billing records. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies. If we keep your record electronically, you can ask for an electronic copy.
To ask us to correct your record. If you believe something in your record is wrong or incomplete, you can ask us in writing to amend it. We may decline, and if we do we will tell you why in writing and how to respond.
To a list of the times we have shared your information. You can ask for an accounting of disclosures made in the six years before your request. This does not include disclosures for treatment, payment or health care operations, or some others set out in law. One list every twelve months is free.
To ask us to limit what we use or share. You can ask us to restrict how we use or share your information for treatment, payment or operations, or with people involved in your care. We are not required to agree, with one exception: if you pay for a service or item in full yourself, you can ask us not to share information about it with your health plan, and we must agree unless the law requires us to share it.
To confidential communications. You can ask us to contact you in a particular way, for example only by mobile phone, or only at a particular address. We will agree to any reasonable request.
To a paper copy of this notice. You can ask for one at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
To be told about a breach. If a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information, we will notify you.
To have someone act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise these rights and make choices about your information on your behalf.
Our responsibilities
We are required by law to keep your health information private and secure, to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to follow the notice currently in effect. We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us in writing that we can.
We may change this notice. Any change applies to all the information we hold about you, including information we already have. The current notice is available at both centers and on this page.
If you think your rights have been violated
You can complain to us. Call either center and ask for the Privacy Officer: Arlington 817-417-1132, Fort Worth 817-438-0259. You can also ask any member of staff to pass a written complaint on.
You can also complain to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, by calling 1-800-368-1019 (TDD 1-800-537-7697), or through the complaint portal at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.