Our Commitment Regarding Your Protected Health Information

How HMAA Uses or Discloses Your Protected Health Information

• Received on your enrollment application from you or through the plan sponsor, and from your doctors for underwriting purposes. HMAA is prohibited from using an individual’s genetic information for underwriting purposes pursuant to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
  
  
• Reported on claims received from your doctors
  
  
• To review services or to approve medical treatment requests received from your doctors
  
  
• To the plan sponsor for enrollment, disenrollment or payment purposes
  
  
• For quality assurance to improve health care or to reduce health care costs
  
  
• To prevent fraud and abuse that drives up the cost of health care for everyone
  
  
• Shared with our business associates such as providers of health care services, reinsurers, software vendors, auditors, management and general administrative services, and brokers or agents. HMAA’s business associates are also required to protect your personal health information
  
  
• To respond to a complaint or appeal that you or your doctor may file so that we may promptly investigate and respond to the concerns
  
  
• When required by the federal or state law, such as in a response to a court order
  
  
• For purposes related to public health or safety, to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health or safety, or the health and safety of another person or the public
  
  

Uses and Disclosures that Require Your Authorization

Your Additional Rights

• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your medical information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. HMAA is not required to agree with your request, but if we do agree with your request, we will honor the request except for medical emergencies. If you wish to request a restriction, it must be in writing to HMAA and must clearly describe the information you wish us to restrict
  
  
• Inspect and request a copy your health records. There is a reasonable fee for copying and mailing your records
  
  
• Request an amendment to your health record if you believe that something in your record is incorrect or incomplete. Your request must be in writing and HMAA has the right to deny your request. If we do deny your request, you have the right to file a statement that you disagree with us. Your statement will be added to your record
  
  
• Release your records to others. If you would like HMAA to release your records to others (such as to your attorney or others who you wish to have knowledge of your care) for any purpose you choose, it must be in writing to HMAA. You may revoke your request at any time, but only to the extent where no action has been taken based on your prior written request
  
  
• Ask us to communicate with you in a different way or through a different address if all or part of the information could endanger you. HMAA will honor your request as long as it is reasonable. HMAA has the right to ask how payment will be made
  
  
• File a complaint if you feel your privacy rights have been violated. You may file a complaint with the HMAA Privacy Officer, or you may file a complaint with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Federal law prevents any retaliation to filed complaints
  
  
• Request an Accounting for Disclosures that HMAA has made after April 14, 2003 related to your personal health information, except for information used or incidental to treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, or that we shared with you or your family, or information that you gave us specific consent to release, or information we are required by the federal or state law to release. Your request must be in writing and must cover a disclosure made within the prior six years
  
  
• Request a paper copy of this notice if you view this privacy notice on our website
  
  

Safeguarding Your Protected Health Information