General Info

FULLER & SPENCER-FULLER, PC This notice is required by federal law and describes how medical information may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Our office has ALWAYS held your personal, medical, and dental information as confidential, however the law requires that we have a written policy and document our procedures and training. Please review and if you would like a copy to take home, please notify the front desk staff. This will remain posted at the office at all times. ( Also, Virginia law requires that we update your medical history with every recall/check-up appointment unless under continuous restorative care. Many patients have seen this as an invasion of privacy. Please remember we are following federal and state law and many dental agents can interact with prescription and non-prescription medications. ) Treatment: Our office will use and disclose your protected health information ( PHI ) for purposes of treatment, meaning the provision, coordination and management of your health care and related services. An example would be to disclose your health information to coordinate benefits with a third-party payer or consultation with a specialist for your care. Payment: Our office will use and disclose the minimum necessary amount of your PHI to obtain payment for services rendered. For example, our office may share your treatment plan with your insurer to pre-estimate insurance coverage. ( You should have received a privacy policy statement from your insurance company. ) Collections: Our office will use and disclose the minimum necessary amount of your PHI for purposes of collections. Our office will have a binding privacy contract with the collection agency. Minimum personal information will be released. An example would be in case of non-payment by you, the agency would possibly disclose what services were done for the outstanding balance on your account. Health-care Operations: Our office will use and disclose the minimum necessary amount of your PHI for health-care operations, such as business planning and development that relates to business management. For example, if our office was to hire a consultant to improve patient flow and reduced wait time. ( This consultant would also be required to sign a privacy contract involving anything consultant was exposed to at our office. ) This section of our policy also describes other purposes for which our office is permitted or REQUIRED to use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization. Required by law: Our office may use and disclose your PHI only to the extent that such use is required by law.