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Notice of Privacy Policies & Practices
Effective date 14 April 2003

This notice describes how medical information about clients may be used and disclosed and how a client can get access to this information.   Please read this carefully.

This notice gives the client information required by the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act of 1996 and it’s implementing regulations (HIPAA Privacy Rules) about the duties and privacy practices of Med-Zone, Inc. to protect the privacy of a clients’ medical information that we maintain as a provider to the Medicare program, Medicaid program, Medicaid Waiver programs, Private Insurance policy programs and Private Payment programs.

This notice applies to the designated health care components of Med-Zone, Inc. that use and disclose clients medical information to provide Consumable Medical Supplies, Home Medical Equipment, Adaptive Medical Equipment, Specialized Medical Supplies & Equipment, Environmental Adaptations and Repairs to Medical Equipment.   We will use the terms health and healthcare in this notice to refer to the consumable medical supplies and medical equipment we supply to our clients.   This notice does not apply to the information that our non-healthcare components maintain about our clients.

The Effective date of this notice is 14 April 2003.   We are required to follow the terms of this notice until we replace it. We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice at any time.  If we make changes to this notice, we will revise it and send a new notice to all persons, clients, associates or entities to which we are required to give the new notice.   We reserve the right to make the new changes apply to all clients medical information maintained by us before and after the effective date of the new notice.

Purpose for Which We May Use or Disclose A Clients Medical Information Without The Clients Consent or Authorization.

We may use and disclose a client’s medical information for the following purposes:

Healthcare Providers treatment purposes.   For example, we may disclose a client’s medical information to the clients’ doctor, at the doctor’s request, for a client’s treatment by the doctor.

Payment.   For example, we may use or disclose a client’s medical information to collect payment for covered healthcare services or to provide eligibility information to a client’s doctor or a case management agency.   We may also use and disclose a client’s medical information to another covered entity or healthcare provider for payment activities.

Healthcare Operations.   For example, we may use or disclose a client’s medical information to conduct quality assessments and improvements activities, to engage in or assist in coordination or case management and to manage, plan or develop our business.  We may also disclose a client’s medical information to another covered entity for the limited healthcare operations activities and healthcare fraud and abuse compliance activities of the entity that receives a client’s medical information.

Health Services.   We may use client medical information to contact a client to give the client information about treatment alternatives or other health related benefits and services that may be of interest to the client.  We may disclose a clients’ medical information to our business associates to assist us in these activities.

As Required By Law .  For example, we must allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare, Medicaid and authorized healthcare agencies to audit our records.  We may also disclose client medical information as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with workers compensation or other similar laws.

To Business Associates.   We may disclose client medical information to a business associates we hire to assist us.  Each of our business associates must agree in writing to ensure the continuing confidentiality and security of client medical information.

We May Also Use and Disclose Your Medical Information as Follows:

To comply with legal proceedings, such as a court or administrative order or subpoena.

To law enforcement officials for limited law enforcement purposes.

To a family member, friend or other person, for the purpose of helping the client with healthcare or with payment for your healthcare, if a client is in a situation such as a medical emergency and the client cannot give a client agreement to us to do this.

To the clients’ personal representative appointed by the client or designated by applicable law.

For research purposes in limited circumstances.

To a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director about a deceased client.

To avert a serious threat to a clients health or safety or the health or safety of others.

To a government agency authorized to oversee the healthcare system or government programs.

To federal officials for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security purposes.

To public health authorities for public health purposes.

To appropriate military authorities, if a client was a member, or is member of the armed forces.

Potential Impact of State Law

In some situations, the HIPAA Privacy Rules do not preempt (or take precedence over) state privacy laws that give the client greater privacy protections.  As a result, the privacy laws of a particular state might impose a privacy standard under which we will be required to operate, for example, a state privacy law relating to disclosures of medical information of minors.

Uses and Disclosures with Client Permission

We will not use or disclose a clients medical information for any other purpose unless the client give us client written authorization to do so.  If a client gives us written authorization to use or disclose client medical information for a purpose that is not described in this Notice, then, in most cases, you may revoke it in writing at any time.  Clients’ revocation will be effective for all of the clients’ medical information we maintain, unless we have taken action in reliance on the clients authorization.

Client Rights

Clients may make a written request to Med-Zone, Inc. to do one or more of the following concerning the clients’ medical information that we maintain:

Put additional restrictions on our use and disclosure of a client’s medical information.   We do not have to agree to a clients request if federal or state regulation or laws conflict.

To communicate with a client in confidence about client medical information by a different means or at a different location than we are currently doing.  We do not have to agree to a client’s request unless such confidential communications are necessary to avoid endangering a client and the clients’ request continues to allow us to receive payment for services rendered.   The client request must specify the alternative means or location.  Even though a client requested that we communicate with them in confidence, we may give governing federal or state authority cost information.

To see, and get, copies of client medical information.  In limited cases, we do not have to agree to a client’s request.

To correct a clients medical information.  In some cases, we do not have to agree to your request.

To receive a list of disclosures of a clients medical information that we and our business associates made for certain purposes. (but not for disclosures before 14 April 2003)

To send a client a paper copy of this notice if a client received this notice by e-mail or Internet.

If a client wants to exercise any of these rights described in this notice, please contact the Med-Zone, Inc. office (below).    We will give the client the necessary information and forms for the client to complete and return to the Med-Zone, Inc. office.    In some cases, we may charge the client a nominal, cost-based fee to carry out the client’s request.

Complaints

If a client believes Med-Zone, Inc. has violated the clients’ privacy rights, the client has the right to complain to Med-Zone, Inc. or to the proper state or federal authority.   The client may file a written complaint with Med-Zone, Inc. at our office (below).   We will not retaliate against the client if a client chooses to file a complaint.

HIPAA Privacy Officers

Joseph M. Luksha, Jr.  The Privacy Officers are available Monday through Friday.

Lydia M. Fay 9am to 5 pm.  All HIPAA related questions should be addressed to:

Jenny L. Siecienski and will be answered within 48 business hours.

Contract Office

Med-Zone, Inc.
Attn : Privacy Policy
2400 Tamiami Trail
Unit-B
Port Charlotte, Florida   33952-3922

Telephone: 941 764 9566

Website: www.medzoneinc.com

E-Mail:   sales@medzoneinc.com