Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. Telephone: 412 264-6121
P. O. Box 731 Fax: 412 269-0923
Moon Township, PA 15108 E-mail: acci1@earthlink.net
Assignment of Benefits
I request that payment of authorized insurance benefits, including Medicare if I am a Medicare Beneficiary, be made to either to me or on my behalf to the organization listed below for any equipment or services provided to me by that organization.
I authorize the release of any medical or other information necessary to determine these benefits or the benefits payable for related equipment or services to the organization, the Health Care Financing Administration, my Insurance Carrier or other medical entity. A copy of this authorization will be sent to the Health Care Financing Administration, my Insurance Company or other entity, if requested. The original authorization will be kept on file by the organization.
I understand that I am financially responsible to the organization for any charges not covered by health care benefits. It is my responsibility to notify the organization of any changes in my health care coverage. In some cases exact insurance benefits cannot be determined until the insurance company receives the claim. I am responsible for the entire bill or balance of the bill as determined by the organization and/or my health care insurer if the submitted claims or any part of them are denied for payment. I understand that by signing this form I am accepting financial responsibility as explained above for all payment for products received.
General Patient and Patient Family Responsibilities:
In certain circumstances, insurance company may send a check for services provided by Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. directly to the patient. In such cases, the patient agrees to endorse and send such a check to Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. If the patient deposits such a check into a personal account, the patient agrees to send Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. a check for the equivalent amount.
If the patient receives from an insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid, an Explanation of Benefits (EOB), the patient agrees to send a copy of the EOB, by U.S. Mail or fax directly to:
Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc.
P. O. Box 731
Moon Township, PA 15108
By signing this document, I also acknowledge that I have received a copy of the organization’s Notice of Privacy Practices. This acknowledgement is required by the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to ensure that you have been made aware of your privacy rights.
Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc.
P. O. Box 731
Moon Township, PA 15108
Augmentative Communication Consultants, Inc. Telephone: 412 264-6121
P. O. Box 731 Fax: 412 269-0923
Moon Township, PA 15108 E-mail: acci1@earthlink.net
Provider Notice of Privacy Practices
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.
Key Issues
Uses and Disclosures: We use health information about you for providing durable medical equipment (DME), to obtain payment for DME, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of service that we provide. Continuity of care is part of treatment and your records may be shared with other providers to whom you are referred. We may use or disclose identifiable health information about you without your authorization in several situations, but beyond those situations, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing any identifiable health information about you. See details below for examples of information uses.
Your rights: In most cases, you have the right to look at or get a copy of health information about you. If you request copies, we will charge you only normal photocopy fees. You also have the right to receive a list of certain types of disclosures of your information that we made. If you believe that information in your record is incorrect, you have the right to request that we correct the existing information.
Our legal duty: We are required by law to protect the privacy of your information, provide this notice about our information practices, follow the information practices that are described in this notice, and seek your acknowledgement of receipt of this notice.
Before we make a significant change in our policies, we will change our notice and post the new notice in our office and on our web site. You can also request a copy of our notice at any time or download a copy from our web site. For more information about our privacy practices, contact the person listed below.
Complaints: If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made about access to your records, you may contact the person listed below. You also may send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The person listed below can provide you with the appropriate address upon request. If you have any questions or complaints, please call or write:
Millie Telega
Phone: 800 982-2242
412 264-6121
Mail: P. O. Box 731
Moon Township, PA 15108
Payment: Your protected health information will be used, as needed, in activities related to obtaining payment for durable medical equipment. For example, obtaining approval for an accessory for your communication device may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to your health insurance company, or governmental plan to obtain approval for the equipment.
Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclosed, as-needed, your protected health information in order to support our business activities, For example, when we review employee performance, we may need to look at what an employee has documented in your medical record.
Business Associates: We may share your protected health information with a third party ‘business associate’ that performs various activities (e.g., billing, outside sales). Whenever an arrangement between us and a business associate involves the use or disclosure of your protected health information, we will have a written contract that contains terms that will protect the privacy of your protected health information.
Marketing: We may use or disclose certain health information in the course of providing you with information about equipment alternatives, health-related services, or fund-raising activities.
You may contact us to request that these materials not be sent to you.
Opportunity to Object
We may use and disclose your protected health information in the following instances. You have the opportunity to object. If you are not present or able to object, then your provider may, using professional judgment, determine whether the disclosure is in your best interest.
Others Involved in Your Healthcare: Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a relative, a close friend or any other person you identify, your protected health information that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your health care.
Emergencies: In an emergency treatment situation, we will provide you a Notice of Privacy Practices as soon as reasonably practicable after the delivery of treatment.
Communication Barriers: We may use and disclose your protected health information if we have attempted to obtain acknowledgment from you of our Notice of Privacy Practices but have been unable to do so due to substantial communication barriers and we determine, using professional judgment, that you would agree.
Without Opportunity to Object: We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations with your authorization or opportunity to object.
Public Health: For public health purposes to a public health authority or to a person who is at risk of contracting or spreading your disease.
Health Oversight: To a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations and inspections.
Abuse or Neglect: To an appropriate authority to report child abuse or neglect, if we believe that you have been a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
Food and Drug Administration: As required by the Food and Drug Administration to track products.
Legal Proceedings: In the course of legal proceedings.
Law Enforcement: For law enforcement purposes, such as pertaining to victims of a crime or to prevent a crime.
Research: To researchers when their research has been approved by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board.
Soldiers, Inmates, and National Security: To military supervisors of Armed Forces personnel or to custodians of inmates, as necessary. Preserving national security may also necessitate disclosure of protected health information.
Workers’ Compensation: To comply with workers’ compensation laws.
Compliance: To the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate our compliance.
In general, we may use or disclosure your protected health information as required by law and limited to the relevant requirement of the law.
Your Rights:
You have the right to:
Inspect and copy your protected health information: However, we may refuse to provide access to certain psychotherapy notes or information for a civil or criminal proceeding.
Request a restriction of your protected health information: You may ask us not to use or disclose certain parts of your protected health information for treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care. Your request must state the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply. We are not required to agree to a restriction that you may request, but if we do agree, then we must act accordingly.
Request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location: We will accommodate reasonable request. We may also condition this accommodation by asking you for information as to how payment will be handled or specification of an alternative address or other method of contact. We will not request an explanation from you as to the basis for the request.
Ask us to amend your protected health information: You may request an amendment of protected health information about you. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us, and your medical record will note the disputed information.
Receive an accounting of certain disclosures we may have made: This right applies to disclosure for purposes other than treatment, payment or healthcare operations. It excludes disclosure we may have made to you, for a facility directory, to family members or friends involved in your care, or for notification purposes. You have the right to receive specific information regarding these disclosures. The right to receive this information is subject to certain exceptions, restrictions and limitations.
Obtain a paper copy of this notice from us: Upon request, even if you have agreed to accept this notice electronically.