Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.

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

Please know that this notice is a summary only, and that applicable law places requirements on us, and limiters/expanders on the issues discussed in this notice (including our uses/disclosures), that may not be obvious. For example, HIPAA’s definitions of “marketing” and “sales” and “breach” and “healthcare operations”, and the related restrictions, are technical, include exceptions, and do not apply to all situations you may personally consider to be within those definitions. So, for instance, if HIPAA allows, we may use/disclose your information for healthcare operations purposes that you may personally believe to be marketing or sales, without your authorization being necessary. This notice is not intended to be more restrictive than applicable law, unless explicitly noted.

Your Rights

With your health information, you have certain rights. This section generally explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

• You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.
• We will provide you with an opportunity to inspect your records within 10 days of your written request. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 10-14 days of your request.
• We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee, not to exceed $0.75 per page for paper copies. We will not charge any fee for providing or delivering your records if the request is for the purpose of supporting an application, claim, or appeal for any government benefit or program. You may not be denied access to your records solely because of inability to pay.

Ask us to correct your medical record

• You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.
• We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.
• If we deny your request to access or correct your medical records, you have the right under New York law to appeal our decision to the New York State Department of Health’s Medical Record Access Review Committee. We will provide you with a form explaining the appeals process and how to contact the Committee at the time of any denial.
• Any agreed-upon amendment will be included as an addition to, and not a replacement of, already existing records.

Request confidential communications

• You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.
• We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

• You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We do not have to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care. If we agree to your request, we may still share this information in the event that you need emergency treatment.
• If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires/allows us to share that information.

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

• You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
• We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make).
• We’ll provide one accounting per year for free, but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

Get a copy of this privacy notice. You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

Choose someone to act for you

• If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
• We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
• If you are over the age of 12, we may notify you of a request by your parent or guardian to review your health information. If you object, we may deny the parent’s or guardian’s request for access.

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

• You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information on page 1.
• You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
• You may also file a complaint with the New York State Attorney General's Office by calling 1-800-771-7755 or visiting https://www.ag.ny.gov, or with the New York State Department of Health.
• We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

• Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
• Share information in a disaster relief situation

If you cannot tell us your preference, for example, if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:

• Marketing purposes
• Sale of your information
• Most sharing of psychotherapy notes

In the case of fundraising:

• We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.

If we have your substance use disorder patient records, subject to 42 CFR Part 2, we will give you clear and obvious notice in advance and a choice about whether to receive fundraising communications that use your Part 2 information.

Our Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or share your health information? We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:

Treat you. We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you. Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.

Run our organization. We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.

Bill for your services. We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities. Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

How else can we use or share your health information? We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We must meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes.

Help with public health and safety issues. We can share health information about you for certain situations such as: (i) preventing disease; (ii) helping with product recalls; (iii) reporting adverse reactions to medications; (iv) reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; or (v) preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

Do research. We can use or share your information for health research.

Comply with the law. We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Respond to organ and tissue donation requests. We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.

Work with a medical examiner or funeral director. We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests. We can use or share health information about you: (i) for workers’ compensation claims; (ii) for law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official; (iii) with health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law; (iv) with a correctional institution if you are an inmate; or (v) for special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services.

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions. We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena. Pursuant to New York law, we will not disclose your protected health information to out-of-state law enforcement or state officials cooperating with out-of-state investigations related to legally protected health care activities (such as lawful reproductive health care or gender-affirming care) provided in New York, nor will we comply with subpoenas arising from attempts to penalize such lawful care.

Substance Use Disorder Records. To the extent that we have your substance use disorder patient records, subject to 42 CFR Part 2, we will not share that information for investigations or legal proceedings against you without: (1) your written consent; or (2) a court order and a subpoena.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools. We may use artificial intelligence technologies, including generative AI, to support your care. These tools may assist with analyzing health data, supporting clinical decision-making, drafting patient communications, personalizing treatment recommendations, and improving the quality and efficiency of health care operations. When AI tools are used with your health information, the same privacy and security protections required by HIPAA and applicable state law apply. AI tools do not replace the professional judgment of your licensed health care providers, and clinical decisions are made with appropriate human oversight. If you have questions about how AI is used in your care, please contact our Privacy Officer.

Health Information Exchanges. Our practice participates in a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) that is part of the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY). This network allows healthcare providers to securely share medical records to coordinate care. While we may upload your records to the network, under New York law, we will not allow other healthcare providers to view or access your health information through the SHIN-NY for treatment purposes unless we first obtain your affirmative, written consent, except in the event of a medical emergency.

Other Ways We Can Use/Disclose Information. Applicable law allows for additional uses and disclosures which are not all enumerated and explained above, and we will use/disclose information in any manner allowed by applicable law, including, without limitation, uses and disclosures: made at your request; for appointment reminders; to recommend treatment alternatives and healthcare related products and services; limited data sets in certain circumstances; to avert a serious threat to health or safety; for certain public health and safety issues; to third party business associates who assist us; to coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors if death occurs; to aggregate data and de-identify data (at which point it is not subject to HIPAA); sharing within an Organized Healthcare Arrangement we may participate in, within accountable care organizations, regional health information organizations, blue button project, or other health information exchanges (in these situations, there may be an “opt-out” right or other rights you may have); and uses and disclosures that are incidental to other permitted uses and disclosures.

In all cases, included those listed above, if we have substance use disorder patient records about you, subject to 42 CFR Part 2, we cannot share information in those records in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigations or proceedings against you without (1) your consent or (2) a court order and a subpoena.

HIV-Related Information. Under New York law, HIV-related information is protected by stricter confidentiality rules than those under HIPAA. We will not disclose your confidential HIV-related information without your specific written authorization that complies with Section 2781 of Article 27-F, except as expressly permitted by law (for example, to health care providers involved in your care or when required by law). A general authorization to release medical information is not sufficient to authorize disclosure of HIV-related information. Any permitted written disclosure of your confidential HIV-related information will be accompanied by the following (or a substantially similar) statement, as required by law:

"This information has been disclosed to you from confidential records which are protected by State law. State law prohibits you from making any further disclosure of this information without the specific written consent of the person to whom it pertains, or as otherwise permitted by law. Any unauthorized further disclosure in violation of State law may result in a fine or jail sentence or both. A general authorization for the release of medical or other information is not sufficient authorization for further disclosure."

Genetic Testing Information. Under New York law, all records, findings, and results of any genetic test are deemed confidential and may not be disclosed without your specific written informed consent. We will not perform genetic tests or disclose genetic test results without obtaining the consent required by law.

Mental Health Information. Under New York law clinical records maintained by mental health facilities and providers are subject to additional confidentiality protections. We will comply with all legal requirements to the extent applicable to our practice, including obtaining appropriate authorization before disclosing mental health clinical records except as permitted by law.

We will follow all applicable New York State laws regarding healthcare privacy, and we will obtain appropriate consents before we share information concerning HIV status, substance abuse, genetic information, and certain mental health information. If your care involves any of this information, you may contact the Privacy Officer for additional details.

Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information. We will provide such notification within 30 days of discovering the breach, as required by New York law, and will also notify applicable state agencies.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

Nondiscrimination

New York Cancer & Blood Specialists comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate, exclude, or treat people differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, or other legally enumerated protected classes. New York Cancer & Blood Specialists also comply with the New York State Human Rights Law and, where applicable, the New York City Human Rights Law, which prohibit discrimination on additional protected bases. We, as necessary, provide free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: qualified sign language interpreters, written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats), language services to people whose primary language is not English (e.g., qualified interpreters, information written in other languages). If you need these services, contact Jessica Marrone. If you believe that New York Cancer & Blood Specialists has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of a protected class, you can file a grievance with: Jessica M. Marrone, MBA, CPCO, Senior Vice President, Compliance & Risk Management, 1 Research Road, Ridge, NY 11961, (631) 309-6625, jmarrone@nycancer.com. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, Jessica Marrone is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, D.C. 20201, 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD). Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

Other

• We are advising you in this notice that, if you email or text us health information, or request that we provide you with information in these or similar mediums, that these are unsecure mediums for transmitting information and that there is some risk to using these mediums. Information transmitted these ways is more likely to be intercepted by unauthorized third parties than more secure transmission channels. If you want to communicate with us in these mediums, you are accepting the risks we have notified you of, and you agree that we are not responsible for unauthorized access of such medical information while it is in transmission to you based on your request, or when the information is delivered to you.
• We typically do not maintain psychotherapy notes.
• Besides the potentially applicable Federal HIPAA law, there are other federal or state health information privacy laws. These laws occasionally may require your specific written permission prior to disclosures of certain particularly sensitive information (such as mental health, genetic testing, drug/alcohol abuse, or HIV/AIDS information) in circumstances that the HIPAA regulations would permit disclosure without your permission. We comply with all applicable laws that apply stricter nondisclosure or other requirements.
• This notice applies to any other entity/member of an organized healthcare arrangement in which we might participate, including, without limitation, our affiliated entities.