This Notice describes the obligations that Nipro Diabetes Systems (NDS) has to keep all medical information confidential, the circumstances when such information can be used or disclosed, and how you can get access to your Personal Health Information (PHI). Please review this notice carefully.

NDS follows the privacy practices described in this Notice; however, we reserve the right to change our privacy practices and this Notice at anytime. Any changes will apply both to PHI we have on file and to PHI we receive or generate after the change. We will post the most current Notice at our website.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of your PHI. This Notice describes how we may use and disclose PHI about you.

This Notice also describe our obligation and your rights regarding the use and disclosure of your PHI. Please note that not every possible use or category of uses of disclosers is included.

How Nipro Diabetes Systems Will Use your Information

NDS may use, share, or disclose to your physician(s) and/or medical providers the PHI we create or receive on your behalf. This may include information about your diagnosis, prescriptions, and other treatment information necessary to (a) provide you with quality healthcare treatment or receive reimbursement from your health insurance or medical benefits plan, and for (b) NDS to operate it’s business or in connection with treatments by a healthcare provider covered by the Health Insurance Portability Act and Account Ability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, as amended. In addition, NDS may use or disclose your information in other special circumstances described in this notice. NDS will not use or disclose your PHI for any other purpose without your prior written authorization.

Your Individual Rights

You have the right to access certain portions of your PHI, inspect and copy this information, amend the information, request restrictions on the use of and disclosure of the information, request that communications be made to you through alternative means or at an alternative location, and obtain an accounting of the information that NDS has disclosed for reasons other than treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or other circumstances. There are certain limitations on these rights that are explained more fully in the Notice.

Use and Disclosures for Treatment, Payments, or Healthcare Operations

Under HIPAA, NDS may use, receive, or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations without obtaining a written authorization from you. These activities cover a broad range of activities, including:
Treatment: We may disclose your PHI to your providers for treatments, including the provision of care (diagnostic, cure, etc.), or the coordination or management of that care.

Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI to receive payment from our products and services. Payment activities may include sending claims or bills to your heath insurance carrier, HMO or medical insurance plan, review the medical necessity of the services rendered with your physician, and coordinate the payment of benefits between medical plans.
Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI for plan operational purposes. For example, we may use or disclose your PHI for activities such as verification with your health insurance carrier that you are eligible for benefits under the Plan, Quality Control Activities of our organization, services, and training.

We may contract with other businesses for certain services. Those businesses may require access to your personal health information in order to perform a payment, treatment, or healthcare operation for us. We will not permit those businesses to gain access to your PHI unless they enter into a written agreement that they will follow these privacy practices and make reasonable measures to protect the privacy of your PHI.
Unless you authorize us, your PHI will be available only to the individuals who need the information to conduct treatment, payment, or healthcare operation activities.

Important Summary Information

Written Authorization Policy.

We will generally obtain your written authorization before using your PHI or disclosing it to outside persons or organizations. You may revoke any written authorization you have provided to NDS at any time, except to extent that we have made any use(s) or disclosure(s) of your PHI in reliance of the authorization. To revoke an authorization, please send your request in writing to our privacy official. Include a copy of the authorization being revoked, or, if not available, a detailed description of the authorization including the date authorized.

Exceptions to Written Authorization Policy

There are some situations when NDS may use or disclose PHI without prior written authorization. They are:
For treatment, payment and healthcare operations. We are allowed to use or disclose your PHI without your prior written authorization to provide you with treatment (i.e. o provide you with healthcare related product and services, collect payment for that treatment, and or run our normal business operations.)

For disclosure to family and friends involved in your care. Under certain circumstances, we may disclose PHI to your family and your friends involved in your care without your prior written authorization.
In an emergency or for public health. We may use or disclose your PHI without your prior written authorization for emergency or for public health needs. For example, we may share your PHI with public health officials who are authorized to investigate and control spread of diseases.

If information does not identify you. We may use or disclose your private health information if we have removed any information that may reveal your identity.

Research. Under some circumstances, we may use or disclose your public health information without your prior written authorization in connection with research activities.

How to Access Your Protected Health Care Information

You may request to inspect and receive a copy of your PHI by contacting our privacy official.
How to Correct Your Protected Health Information

If you believe that your PHI is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request that we amend your PHI by contacting our privacy official.

How To Keep Track Of The Ways Your Protected Health Information Has Been Shared With Others

You may request an accounting from us that provides information about when and how we have disclosed your PHI to certain outside persons or organizations. The accounting will not include certain types of disclosers, such as disclosures pursuant to your authorization.

How To Request Restriction On Certain Uses And Disclosure

You can request that we adopt stricter privacy protection on the way we use or disclose your PHI for certain purposes. However, NDS is not required to agree to any request for stricter privacy protection. Please submit your request in writing to our privacy official specifying the PHI and the restriction(s) being requested.

How To Request More Confidential Communications
You can request that we contact you or send PHI to you in a way that is more confidential, such as to your home instead of work address. We will not ask you for the reason for your request, and we will try to accommodate all reasonable requests.

How Someone May Act On Your Behalf

You may name a personnel representative who may act on your behalf to control a privacy of your PHI. Parents and guardians will generally have the wrights to control the privacy of PHI about minors, unless the minors are permitted by law to act on their own behalf.

How To File A Complaint

If you believe the privacy of your PHI has been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, please contact our Customer Service Manager or submit your complaint in writing to our Customer Service Manager. NDS will not retaliate or take action against to you for filing a complaint.

To Avert a Serious Threat To Health or Safety

We may use or disclose your PHI with others when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety, or to the health or safety of another person or to the public. In such cases, we will only disclose your PHI to someone able to help prevent the threat, including the target threat. We may also disclose your PHI to law enforcement officers that inform us that you have participated in a violent crime that may cause serious physical harm to another person, or if we determine that you escaped from lawful custody.

Military and Veterans

If you are in the Armed Forces, we may disclose your PHI to appropriate military authorities for activities that they deem necessary to carry out their military mission. We may disclose your PHI about a foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority.

Inmates and Correctional Institutions

If you are an inmate or are detained by a law enforcement officer, we may disclose your PHI to the prison officers or law enforcement officer, if necessary to provide you with health care, or to maintain safety, security, and good order at the place where you are confined. This includes disclosing your PHI that is necessary to protect the health and safety of other inmates or persons involved in supervising or transporting inmates or detainees.

Uses and Disclosures With Your Written Permission

Your PHI will not be used or disclosed for other purposes without your written permission. We will obtain your written permission before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes other than those provided in this notice.

You May Revoke Your Permission

You may revoke your permission at any time but must be done so in writing. Upon receipt of the written revocation, we will stop using or disclosing your PHI in accordance with the written permission, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on your written permission.