In some limited situations,
the law allows or requires us to use or disclose your health information
without a signed consent form from our office. Not all of these
situations will apply to us; most will never come up at all. Such uses or disclosures are:
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When a state or federal law mandates that certain
health information be reported for a specific purpose
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| • |
For public health purposes, such as contagious disease
reporting, investigation or surveillance; and notices to
and from the federal Food and Drug Administration regarding
drugs or medical devices
|
| • |
Disclosures to governmental authorities about
victims of suspected abuse, neglect or domestic violence
|
| • |
Uses and disclosures for health oversight
activities, such as for the licensing of doctors; for audits
by Medicare or Medicaid; or for investigation of possible
violations of health care laws
|
| • |
Disclosures for judicial and administrative
proceedings, such as in response to subpoenas or orders of
courts or administrative agencies
|
| • |
Disclosures for law enforcement purposes,
such as to provide information about someone who is or is
suspected to be a victim of a crime; to provide information
about a crime at our office; or to report a crime that happened
somewhere else
|
| • |
Disclosure to a medical examiner to identify
a dead person or to determine the cause of death; or to funeral
directors to aid in burial; or to organizations that handle
organ or tissue donations
|
| • |
Uses and disclosures to prevent a serious
threat to health or safety
|
| • |
Uses or disclosure for specialized government
functions, such as for the protection of the president or
high ranking government officials; for lawful national intelligence
activities; for military purposes; or for the evaluation
and health of members of the foreign service
|
| • |
Disclosures of de-identified information
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| • |
Disclosures relating to worker's compensation
programs
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| • |
Disclosures of a “limited data set” for research,
public health, or health care operations |
