HIPPA Act

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In this Privacy Notice, the word “Agency” refers to ConnectIDD Pathways. 

When we mean a particular Agency, we use its initials. In this Notice, “medical information” means the same as “health information.”

When you receive benefits from an Agency, that Agency may get health information about you. Heal information includes any information that relates to 

1. Your past, present, or future physical mental health or conditions; 
2. Providing health care to you; or 
3. The past, present, or future payment for your health care. 

This notice tells you about your privacy rights, each Agency’s duty to protect health information that identifies you, and how each Agency may use or disclose health information that identifies you without your written permission. This notice does not apply to health information that does not identify you or anyone else. Pleas share this Notice with everyone in your household who receives benefits from an Agency. 

 The law gives you the right to: 

• Look at or get a copy of the health information an Agency has about you, in most situations; 
• Ask and Agency to correct certain information, including certain health information, about you if you believe the information id wrong or incomplete. Most of the time, an Agency cannot change or delete information, even if it is incorrect. However, if an Agency decides it should make a change, it will add the correct information to the record and note that the new information takes place of the old information, you can have your written disagree with placed in your record; 
• Ask for a list of the times an Agency has disclosed health information about you; 
• Ask and agency to limit the use or disclosure of health information about you more than the law requires. However, the law does not make an Agency agree to do that; 
• Tell and Agency where and how to send messages that include health information about you, if you think sending the information to your usual address could put you in danger. You must put this request in writing, and you must be specific about where and how to contact you; 
• Ask for and get a paper copy of this Notice from any Agency; 
• Withdraw permission you have given an Agency to use or disclose health information that identifies you, unless the Agency has already taken action based on your permission. You must withdraw your permission in writing. 

The law requires and Agency to protect the privacy of health information that identifies you. It also requires an Agency to give you this notices of it legal duties and privacy practices. 

• In most cases, an Agency my not use or disclose health information that identifies you without your written permission. This Notice explains when an Agency may use or disclose health information that identifies you without your permission. 
• For all other uses and disclosures, and Agency must obtain your written permission, which you may withdraw at any time. 
• If an Agency changes its privacy practices, it must notify you of the changes by mailing a new Privacy Notice to the most recent address you have given the Agency. The Agency will mail the Privacy Notice within 60 days of the changes. The now practices will apply to all the health information the Agency has about you, regardless of when the Agency received or created the information. 

Agency employees must protect the privacy of health information that identifies you as part of their jobs with the Agency. An Agency does not give employees access to health information unless they need it for a business reason. Business reasons for needing access to health information include making benefit decisions, paying bills, and planning for the care you need. The Agency will punish employees who do not protect the privacy of health information that identifies you. 

If you have questions about this notice or need more information about your privacy rights, you may contact the following: 

• ConnectIDD Pathway office at [214-289-4933] 
• If you believe ConnectIDD Pathway has violated your privacy right, you may file a complaint with the: 
• U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) by mail at 200 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington D.C. 20201, or by telephone at 1 (800) 368-1019. 
• The Texas Office of the Attorney General by mail at P.O. Box 12548 Austin, Texas 78711-2548, or by telephone at 1 (800) 806-2092 

There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.