Privacy Policy

FAMILY PHARMACY OF SARASOTA, INC.
3644 WEBBER STREET
SARASOTA, FL 34232

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed by Family Pharmacy of Sarasota, Inc. It indicates how you can get access to this information. This information may identify you and is thereby referred to as your "identifiable health information" or your "protected health information". We are required by law to provide you with this notice of how Family Pharmacy will use and disclose your protected health information for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and your rights regarding your protected health information. Please read it carefully. The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your protected health information that is created or maintained by Family Pharmacy. We reserve the right to change our notice of privacy practice. A current 'notice will always be posted in a prominent location in Family Pharmacy for your review and/or for your possession. The notice can also be found on our website at www.familypharmacy.net

If you have any questions about your rights or this notice please contact:

Sandra Pass, Privacy Officer
Family Pharmacy of Sarasota, Inc.
3644 Webber Street
Sarasota, FL. 34232

For more information on filing a complaint call (941)487-5990. Ask to speak to the Privacy Officer or you may contact The Department of Health and Human Services

1. We may use and disclose your protected health information in the following ways.

A. Treatment - we may use your protected health information to treat you. Example: your physician may request and receive a history of your medications for review.

B. Payment - your protected health information will be used to obtain payment for services provided. Example: if you are receiving medications paid for by an insurance company, worker's compensation or Medicaid, we will communicate by phone or by computer for authorization for payment using your protected health information.

C. Healthcare Operations - we may use your protected health information to operate our business. Example: we may use your protected health information in order to locate your address when making a home delivery to you. We may use your protected health information for internal marketing purposes. For example when we have a seminar or speaker that we feel may be of interest or benefit to you we will send you an invitation. You may contact our privacy officer to indicate that you do not wish to be included in these offers.

2. Our company will use and disclose your protected health information when we are required to do so by federal, state or local law.

A. Our company may disclose protected health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law.

B. Our company may use and disclose your protected health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may release protected health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official regarding a crime, concerning a death, response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena or similar legal process to identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive or missing person and in an emergency situation.

C. Our company may use and disclose your protected health information when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public.

D. Our company may disclose your protected health information if you are a member of the U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans) and if required by the appropriate military command authorities.

E. Our company may disclose your protected information to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose your protected health information to federal officials in order to protect the president, other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.

3. Our company may release your protected health information for worker's compensation and similar programs.

4. Your Rights regarding your protected health information:

A. Confidential Communications - you have the right to request that our company communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or a t a certain location. Example: you may ask us to contact you at work instead of home. You must make a written request to Family Pharmacy specifying the requested method of contact or location. Our company will accommodate reasonable requests.

B. Requesting Restrictions - you have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your protected health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to your request.

C. Inspections and Copies - you have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the protected health information that may be used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records and billing records. You must submit your request in writing to Family Pharmacy in order to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your protected health information. We may charge a fee for the cost of copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with your request.

D. Amendment - you may ask us to amend your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. You must make this request in writing and submit to Family Pharmacy supplying us with a reason that supports your request for amendment. We may deny your request if you fail to submit it in writing or if you ask us to amend information that is accurate and complete.

5. Accounting of Disclosures - all of our patients have a right to request an accounting of disclosures. An accounting of disclosures is a list of certain disclosures our company has made of your protected health information pertaining to treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You must submit your request on writing to Family Pharmacy attention: privacy officer. Our company will keep records of personal health information for a period of 6 years beginning April 14, 2003. Our company will notify you of the cost involved and you may withdraw your request before you incur any cost.

6. Rights To a Paper Copy of This Notice - you are entitled to receive a paper copy of our notice of privacy practices at anytime.

7. Right To Provide an Authorization For Other Use and Disclosures - our company only uses your protected health information for treatment, payment, or company operations. We do not sell your protected health information to marketing list companies, telemarketing companies or for fund-raising purposes. Our company will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosure for any other purposes than listed above. You will have the right to allow the uses and disclosures for any other purposes and/or you will have the right to revoke any time in writing and we will no longer use or disclose your protected health information for the reason described in the authorization.

8. Business Associates - companies who provide services to Family Pharmacy who have access to our customer/patient's personal health information will be required to sign business agreement protecting Family Pharmacy customers/patients from personal health information disclosures with out authorization.

9. Minimum Necessary/Safeguards - protected health information will be kept to a minimum to process your business transaction. We will share only the information necessary to complete your order or treatment. Example: employees of Family Pharmacy will speak quietly when discussing customer/patient personal health information whenever in a public area. Family Pharmacy will keep personal health information to a minimum when talking to a third party payor (insurance) for authorization.