Cogent Health Privacy Practices

Patient privacy is important to us. To better protect patient privacy we provide this notice explaining our privacy practices. These policies and practices apply to Cogent Health and its subsidiaries. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available from every page on our website.

Use and Disclosure of Health Information

Cogent Health, its subsidiaries and / or affiliates, ("Cogent") may use patient health information, that is, information that constitutes protected health information as defined in the Privacy Rule of the Administrative Simplification provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"), for purposes of making or obtaining payment for patient care and conducting health care operations. Cogent has established a policy to guard against unnecessary disclosure of patient health information.

THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH COGENT MAY USE OR DISCLOSE PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION:

To Make or Obtain Payment.

Cogent may use or disclose patient health information to make payment to or collect payment from third parties, such as health care providers or third party administrators, for the care the patient received. For example, Cogent may provide information regarding patient coverage or health care treatment to health care providers and/or the patient's insurer to coordinate payment of benefits.

To Conduct Health Care Operations.

Cogent may use or disclose health information for its own operations to facilitate the administration of the patient's benefit plan and as necessary to provide coverage and services to all benefit plan participants. Such operations includes such activities as:

For example, Cogent may use patient health information to conduct case management, quality improvement and utilization review activities and / or to engage in customer service and grievance resolution activities.

For Treatment Alternatives.

Cogent may use and disclose patient health information to tell the patient about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to the patient.

For Distribution of Health-Related Benefits and Services.

Cogent may use or disclose patient health information to provide to the patient information on health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to the patient.

To Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care.

Cogent may release medical information about the patient to a friend or family member who is involved in the patient's medical care. Cogent may also give information to someone who helps pay for the patient's care. In addition, Cogent may disclose medical information about the patient to an entity assisting in a disaster relief effort so that patient's family can be notified about the patient's condition, status, and location.

For Disclosure to the Plan Sponsor.

Cogent may disclose patient health information to the plan sponsor of the patient's benefit plan for plan administration functions performed by the plan sponsor on behalf of Cogent. In addition, Cogent may provide summary health information to the plan sponsor so that the plan sponsor may solicit premium bids from health insurers or modify, amend or terminate the plan. Cogent also may disclose to the plan sponsor information on whether the patient is participating in Cogent administered benefit plans.

When Legally Required.

Cogent will disclose patient health information when it is required to do so by any federal, state or local law.

To Conduct Health Oversight Activities.

Cogent may disclose patient health information to a health oversight agency for authorized activities including audits, civil administrative or criminal investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary action. Cogent, however, may not disclose patient health information if the patient is the subject of an investigation and the investigation does not arise out of or is not directly related to the patient's receipt of health care or public benefits.

In Connection With Judicial and Administrative Proceedings.

As permitted or required by state law, Cogent may disclose patient health information in the course of any judicial or administrative proceeding in response to an order of a court or administrative tribunal as expressly authorized by such order or in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process, but only when Cogent makes reasonable efforts to either notify the patient about the request or to obtain an order protecting patient health information.

For Law Enforcement Purposes.

As permitted or required by state law, Cogent may disclose patient health information to a law enforcement official for certain law enforcement purposes, including, but not limited to, if Cogent has a suspicion that a patient's death was the result of criminal conduct or in an emergency to report a crime.

In the Event of a Serious Threat to Health or Safety.

Cogent may, consistent with applicable law and ethical standards of conduct, disclose patient health information if Cogent, in good faith, believes that such disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the patient's health or safety or to the health and safety of the public.

For Specified Government Functions.

In certain circumstances, federal regulations may require Cogent to use or disclose patient health information to facilitate specified government functions related to the military and veterans, national security and intelligence activities, protective services for the president and others, and correctional institutions and inmates.

For Workers' Compensation.

Cogent may release patient health information to the extent necessary to comply with laws related to workers' compensation or similar programs.

Questions? Send an email to privacy@cogent-health.com

HIPAA Questions: US Dept of Human Services - HIPAA