For Treatment: We may use your protected health information for treatment purposes. We may use the information to perform our testing services and to produce clinical laboratory results that assist other health care providers in providing quality medical care. We also may share your protected information with other health care providers who are directly involved in your medical care.

For Payment: We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to obtain payment for the services you receive. For example, we may send a bill to your insurance company or health plan to receive payment for the services provided to you.

For Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information for our health care operations. For example, we may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to review and improve the quality of service we provide, or the competence and qualifications of our professional staff. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to get authorization for services or referrals from your health plan.

Business Associates: We may share your Protected Health Information with other companies or individuals, known as “business associates,” as defined by the HIPAA guidelines, who need your information to provide services to us. For example, we may use another company to perform billing services on our behalf. Each business associate is required to protect the privacy of your Protected Health Information, and we have agreements in place with each business associate requiring their compliance.

Required by Law: We must disclose your Protected Health Information as required by Federal, state or local law.

Persons Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care: We may disclose your Protected Health Information only to “authorized persons” as defined under applicable state law.

Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence: If required or authorized by law, we may disclose Protected Health Information to a government agency, such as social services or a protective services agency, if we reasonably believe that an individual is the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

Law Enforcement: We may disclose your Protected Health Information to the police or other law enforcement officials as required by law or in compliance with a court order, warrant, subpoena, summons, or similar process authorized by law. Under certain circumstances, we also may disclose Protected Health Information to law enforcement officials when the information is needed to: identify or locate a missing person or a suspect, fugitive, or material witness; determine whether an individual has been a victim of a crime; determine if a death resulted from criminal conduct; or investigate suspected criminal activity on our premises.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: Under certain circumstances, we may disclose your Protected Health Information in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding, in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose your Protected Health Information in response to a court or administrative order. If the lawsuit is a medical negligence action, your Protected Health Information may be disclosed without a court order or subpoena. We may also disclose your Protected Health Information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawsuit process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Public Health and Safety: Your Protected Health Information may be used or disclosed for public health activities, such as assisting public health authorities or other legal authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, or for other health oversite activities. Your Protected Health Information may be disclosed to appropriate persons in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of a particular person or the general public.

Specialized Government Functions: We may disclose your Protected Health Information for military or national security purposes or to correctional institutions or law enforcement officers that have you in their lawful custody.

Workers’ Compensation: Your Protected Health Information may be used or disclosed as necessary in order to comply with laws and regulations related to workers’ compensation.

Change of Ownership: In the event that our clinical laboratory is sold or merged with another organization, your Protected Health Information will become the property of the new owner, although you will maintain the right to request that copies of your Protected Health Information be sent directly to you or a physician of your designation.

Marketing: We will not disclose your Protected Health Information for marketing purposes without your prior authorization.

Research: We may use or disclose your health information for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your Protected Health Information.