HIPAA Notice

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

 

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.

Notice of Privacy Practices Effective: 10/1/2026

ExpectCare Hospice uses your health information to provide treatment, receive payment, manage healthcare operations, and assess the quality of your care. ExpectCare Hospice physically owns the medical record in which this information is maintained.

How ExpectCare Hospice May Use or Disclose Your Health Information

For Treatment.

ExpectCare Hospice may use your health information to provide medical treatment or services. Healthcare providers involved in your care, including physicians and nurses, may document treatment-related information, the care they provide, and your response. This information helps them determine the appropriate treatment.

For Payment.

ExpectCare Hospice may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for your treatment and services. For example, we may send a bill to you or a third-party payer, such as an insurer or health plan. The bill may identify you and include information about your diagnosis, treatment, and supplies used.

For Healthcare Operations.

ExpectCare Hospice may use and disclose your health information for healthcare operations. For example, we may share it with medical staff, risk-management or quality-improvement personnel, and others to:

• Evaluate the performance of your staff
• Assess the quality of care and outcomes in your cases and similar cases
• Learn how to improve our facilities and services
• Determine how to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the healthcare we provide.

Appointments.

ExpectCare Hospice may use your information to send appointment reminders and provide information about treatment options or other health-related benefits and services that may interest you.

Fundraising.

ExpectCare Hospice may use your information to contact you about fundraising. A group health plan, health insurer, or HMO may also disclose information to the plan sponsor. You may opt out of these activities by contacting ExpectCare Hospice at the number listed below.

Required by Law.

ExpectCare Hospice may use or disclose your information when required by law, including for the following purposes:

• For judicial and administrative proceedings pursuant to legal authority
• To report information related to victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• To assist law enforcement officials in their law enforcement duties

Public Health.

Your health information may be used or disclosed for public health and health-oversight activities, including helping authorized agencies prevent or control disease, injury, or disability.

Decedents.

Your health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable them to carry out their lawful duties.

Organ/Tissue Donation.

Your health information may be used or disclosed for cadaveric organ, eye, or tissue donation purposes.

Research.

ExpectCare Hospice may use your health information for research approved by an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the proposal and established safeguards to protect your privacy.

Health and Safety.

As permitted by law, your health information may be disclosed to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety or that of another person.

Government Functions.

Your health information may be used or disclosed for specialized government functions, such as protecting public officials or reporting to branches of the armed services.

Workers’ Compensation.

Your health information may be used or disclosed as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws and regulations.

Your Health Information Rights

You have the following rights:

• You may request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your information as provided by 45CFR§164.522. However, ExpectCare Hospice is not required to agree to a requested restriction unless it is a request to restrict disclosure of your protected health information to your health plan and if the disclosure is for the purpose of carrying out payment or healthcare operations and is not otherwise required by law; and if the protected health information pertains solely to a healthcare item or service for which you have paid in full.
• You have the right to see copies of your electronic health record if ExpectCare Hospice uses electronic health records.
• You have the right to request and obtain a paper copy of the notice of information practices upon request.
• You have the right to obtain and/or inspect a copy of your health record as provided for in 45CFR§164.524.
• You have the right to amend your health record as provided in 45CFR§164.526.
• You have the right to request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.
• You may revoke an authorization to use or disclose your health information, except when action has already been taken in reliance on it or when the authorization was required to obtain insurance coverage and applicable law allows the insurer to contest a claim.
• You have the right to receive an accounting of where your protected health information was disclosed during the six years prior to the date of your request.

Uses and Disclosures of Your Health Information that Require Authorization

• The use and disclosure of psychotherapy notes, except i) use by the originator of the psychotherapy notes for treatment; ii) use or disclosure for training programs in which students, trainees, or practitioners in mental health learn under supervision to practice or improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling; or iii) use or disclosure to defend in a legal action or other proceeding brought by you.
• Uses and disclosures for marketing purposes. Face-to-face communication by us to you or a promotional gift of nominal value will not require your authorization.
• Disclosures that constitute a sale of protected health information.

Communication of Privacy Concerns

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact ExpectCare Hospice and/or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not face retaliation for filing a concern. To submit a complaint to ExpectCare Hospice, send written notice to the address at the bottom of this page.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Ave, S.W.
Washington, D.C., 20201

You may also call 1-877-696-6775 or visit www.hhs.gov

Obligations of ExpectCare Hospice

ExpectCare Hospice is required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy of protected health information
• Provide you with this notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your protected health information
• Abide by the terms of this notice
• Notify you if we are unable to agree to the requested restriction on how your information is used or disclosed
• Accommodate reasonable requests you may make to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations
• Obtain your written authorization to use or disclose your health information for reasons other than those listed above and permitted under law
• Notify you following a breach of unsecured protected health information

ExpectCare Hospice may change its privacy practices and apply the revised provisions to all protected health information it maintains. We will provide revised notices in writing.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the following:

ExpectCare Hospice/Compliance Officer
501 Riverchase Parkway East, Suite 200

Hoover, Alabama 35244