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example, we may need to disclose information to your health insurance company to get prior approval for surgery. We may also disclose protected health information to your health insurance company to determine whether you are eligible for benefits or whether a particular service is covered under your health plan. In order to get payment for the services we provide to you, we may also need to disclose your protected health information to your health insurance company to demonstrate the medical necessity of the services or, as required, by your insurance company, for utilization review. We may also disclose patient information to another provider involved in your care for the other provider's payment activities.

  C.   Operations. We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, for our own health care operations to facilitate our functions and to provide quality care to all patients. Health care operations include but are not limited to such activities as: quality assessment and improvement activities, employee review activities, training programs including those in which students, trainees, or practitioners in health care learn under supervision, accreditation, certification, licensing or credentialing activities, review and auditing, including compliance reviews, medical reviews, legal services and maintaining compliance programs, and business management and general administrative activities.

In certain situations, we may also disclose patient information to another provider or health plan for their health care operations.

  D.   Other Uses and Disclosures. As part of treatment, payment and health care operations, we may also use or disclose your protected health information for the following purposes: to remind you of your surgery date or other appointments for treatment or care, to inform you of potential treatment alternatives or options, or to inform you of health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.

  II.   Uses and Disclosures Beyond Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations Permitted Without Authorization or Opportunity to Object

Federal privacy rules allow us to use or disclose your protected health information without your permission or authorization for a number of reasons including the following:

  A.   When Legally Required. We will use or disclose your protected health information when we are required to do so by any federal, state or local law. The use or disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law. You will be notified, as required by law, of any such uses or disclosures.

  B.   Public Health Activities. We may disclose your protected health information for public health activities and purposes, including the following:

    • To prevent, control, or report disease, injury or disability as permitted by law.
    • To report vital events such as birth or death as permitted or required by law.

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