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Policy 6: Policy on Patient Requests for Confidential Communications <br /> North State Medical Transport <br /> Policy on Patient Requests for Confidential Communications of <br /> Protected Health Information <br /> Purpose <br /> The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") grants <br /> individuals the right to request that North State Medical Transport send PHI to an alternate <br /> location (e.g., somewhere other than a home address), or through alternate means (e.g., by <br /> email rather than regular mail). This is called the right to "confidential communications." <br /> North State Medical Transport has an obligation to grant patients this right and it must abide by <br /> a request for confidential communications of PHI in accordance with federal and state law. To <br /> ensure that North State Medical Transport complies with its obligations, this policy outlines <br /> procedures for handling requests for confidential communications of PHI and establishes the <br /> procedures by which patients or their authorized representatives may request confidential <br /> communications. <br /> Scope <br /> This policy applies to all North State Medical Transport staff members who handle <br /> requests from patients for confidential communications of their PHI. Generally, all requests will <br /> be directed to the HIPAA Compliance Officer and it shall be the responsibility of the HIPAA <br /> Compliance Officer to handle all requests for confidential communications. <br /> Procedure <br /> Requests for Confidential Communications <br /> 1. North State Medical Transport will permit patients to request that North State Medical <br /> Transport send PHI to individuals at an alternate location (e.g., somewhere other than a <br /> home address), or in a specific manner (e.g., by email rather than regular mail). <br /> 2. All requests for confidential communications PHI shall be referred to the HIPAA <br /> Compliance Officer who shall request that the patient or authorized representative <br /> complete and submit North State Medical Transport's "Patient Request for Confidential <br /> Communications of Protected Health Information" Form. All requests will be reviewed <br /> and denied or approved by the HIPAA Compliance Officer in accordance with this policy. <br /> The HIPAA Compliance Officer shall utilize the "Review of Patient Request for <br /> Confidential Communications of Protected Health Information" Form when reviewing <br /> requests for confidential communications of PHI. <br />