HIPAA Compliance

What Are Patient Rights?

As a person receiving health care, you have certain rights. Federal laws protect some of those rights, such as the right to view your medical records and keep them private. Many states also have laws protecting your rights. As a patient, you should expect quality care from your providers and know who is caring for you.

Plastic surgery serves both the individual patient and the public interest. In doing so, it is important to recognize fundamental human rights and patients' rights as core values of the profession. NorCal Plastic Surgery upholds these standards of quality and ethical service as a vital component of the care we provide.

Your rights as a patient:

• You have the right to receive care in a healthy, safe environment, with compassion and respect for your rights and dignity.
• You have the right to competent, fair, and ethical medical information and care.
• You have the right to protect your personal privacy.
• You have the right to express concern for your needs, best interests, preferences, and complaints.
• You have the right to participate in the decisions that affect your care and your health. This also pertains to the right of informed consent, which is the permission you grant with knowledge of the possible risks and consequences explained by your surgeon. Informed consent allows you to choose treatment with full knowledge of the risks and benefits.

You can also expect support after you leave our practice. This includes knowing what self-care or follow-up care you may need, as well as help understanding your bill or insurance.

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed by Congress in 1996 and provides you with the ability to continue and transfer health insurance coverage when you change or lose your job. It reduces health care fraud and abuse, mandates industry-wide standards for information on electronic billing and other processes, and requires that your health information be protected and confidential.

The HIPAA Privacy regulations require providers and their business associates to develop and follow procedures that ensure the confidentiality and security of protected health information when it is transferred, received, handled, or shared. This applies to paper, oral, and electronic information.

If you have questions about how your health information is handled, or would like to request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact our office.