How we may use and disclose medical information about you.

The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose medical information. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

• For Treatment - We may use medical information about you to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose medical information about you to the practice's office personnel who are involved in taking care of you at the office or elsewhere. We also may disclose medical information about you to people outside our office who may be involved in your care after you leave the office, such as family members or others we use to provide services that are part of your care provided you have consented to such disclosure. These entities include third party physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies or clinical labs with whom the office consults or makes referrals.

• For Payment -We may use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive at our office may be billed to and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about procedures you received at the office so your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the services. We may also tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the treatment.

• For Health Care Operations -We may use and disclose medical information about you for medical office operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run our office and make sure that all of our patients receive quality care. For example, we may use medical information to review our treatment and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff in caring for you. We may also combine medical information about many patients to decide what additional services the office should offer, what services are not needed, and whether certain new treatments are effective. We may also disclose information to our physicians, staff and other office personnel for review and learning purposes.

• Appointment Reminders -We may use and disclose medical information to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment for treatment or medical care at the office.

• Treatment Alternatives -We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.

• Health-Related Benefits and Services -We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.

• Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care -We may release medical information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care provided you have consented to such disclosure. We may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care. In addition, we may disclose medical information about you to an entity assisting in a disaster relief effort so that your family can be notified about your condition, status and location.

• As Required By Law -We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law.

• To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety -We may use and disclose medical information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.