Privacy Policy

SUMMARY NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

This summary notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. A complete copy of this notice must be given to all clients. Please request one if you have not received it.

How Jewish Family Service Uses and Discloses Your Health Information:

Jewish Family Service (hereafter JFS) provides a broad range of services through a wide variety of health and human service programs. If you receive services from a JFS program, our staff may use your protected health information and disclose it to other health and human service programs and outside JFS to:

  1. Plan and provide your care and treatment.
  2. Communicate with health care professionals who care for you.
  3. Describe the care you receive.
  4. Obtain reimbursement from private insurers or other government programs.
  5. Verify that services billed were actually provided.
  6. Educate health professionals.
  7. Inform public health officials charged with improving health care.
  8. Assess and improve the services provided and the outcomes achieved.
  9. Pay for services you receive.
  10. Inform you about other public programs and services.

The JFS staff will not use or disclose your protected health information except as described in this notice, or otherwise authorized by law.

You have the right to:

  1. Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your protected health information.
  2. Obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Information Practices upon request.
  3. Inspect and copy your protected health information.
  4. To amend health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
  5. An accounting of disclosures made other than for treatment, payment & healthcare operations.
  6. File a complaint to the JFS Privacy Officer and / or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

JFS Duties Regarding Your Protected Health Information:

All JFS Health and Human Service Programs are obligated to:

  1. Maintain the privacy of your protected health information.
  2. Provide you with a notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information we collect and maintain about you.
  3. Abide by the terms of this notice.
  4. Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction.
  5. Accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at an alternative address.
  6. Provide an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information.

Others who may receive your health information:

Business Associates: There are some services provided in our organization through contracts with business associates. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our business associate so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do. However, we require the business associate to appropriately safeguard your information.

Research: We may disclose information to researchers when the information is de-identified or when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.

Public Health: We may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.

Correctional Institution: Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents thereof any health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals, or for the administration of the institution.

Law Enforcement: We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes.

Required by Law: We may disclose health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety, the health and safety of the public, or another person.

Military, Veterans, National Security & Intelligence: We may be required by military command or other government authorities to release health information about you.

Workers’ Compensation: We may release information for this or similar programs if you are seeking compensation.

Lawsuits & Disputes: We may disclose health information about you in response to a court or administrative order or a subpoena.

Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose information for audits, investigations, inspections or licensing purposes.

Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors: We are permitted to provide some health information after a client’s death, if necessary.

For More Information or To Report A Problem:

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact JFS Privacy Officer at: 607 N. Jerome Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402 , (609) 822-1108

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

Jewish Family Service of Atlantic and Cape May Counties may materially change its privacy practices and make the new privacy practices effective for all protected health information we maintain. Should our privacy practices materially change, we will provide you with a revised notice.