Privacy Policy

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR PET’S MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how Luv My Pet may use and disclose your pet’s protected health information (PHI) for purposes of treatment, payment and health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law.

I. OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Luv My Pet takes the privacy of your pet’s health information seriously. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices. We will abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. We reserve the right to change this Notice of Privacy Practices and to make any new Notice of Privacy Practices effective for all protected health information that we maintain. Any new Notice of Privacy Practices adopted will be posted on our website (www.luvmypet.com) and made available the next time you and your pet visit a Luv My Pet vaccination clinic.

II. WHAT IS “PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION” (PHI)?
Protected health information (“PHI”) is demographic and individually identifiable health information that will or may identify you and your pet and relates to your pet’s past, present or future health or condition and related health care services.

III. WHAT DOES “HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS” INCLUDE?
Health care operations include, but are not limited to, activities such as communications among heath care providers, conducting quality assessment and improvement activities, evaluating the qualifications, competence, and performance of Luv My Pet’s employees and independently contracted health care professionals, training future health care professionals, conducting medical review and auditing service, providing information to manufacturers and government entities for purposes of evaluating efficacy of and reactions to certain vaccines and medications, compiling and analyzing information in anticipation of or for use in legal proceedings or financial audits or transactions and general administrative and business functions.

IV. HOW IS MEDICAL INFORMATION USED?
Luv My Pet uses medical records as a way of recording your pet’s health information and treatment and as a tool for health care operations and payment. Heath care information is also used by the government and vaccine manufacturers in order to improve and monitor the efficacy and effects of vaccines. Information that may identify you or your pet will not be released to anyone outside of Luv My Pet without written authorization from you except for the purposes of treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law.

V. EXAMPLES OF HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY BE USED FOR TREATMENT, PAYMENT OR HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS
• Medical information may be used to determine needed health care services (such as vaccinations).
• We will use medical information in connection with physical examinations and to establish a vaccination plan.
• We may disclose protected health information to another provider for treatment (such as referral for emergency services in the case of anaphylaxis (an adverse reaction to a vaccination).)
• We may use the emergency contact information you provide to contact you if the address or contract information we have on record is no longer accurate.
• We may contact you to remind you that your pet is due for vaccination by calling you via live call or automated system or by mailing a postcard.
• We may contact you to discuss treatment alternatives or other health related benefits that may be of interest.

VI. WHEN DO I NEED TO SIGN A CONSENT FORM?
You will need to sign an authorization to have protected health information released for any reason other than treatment, payment or health care operations or when release of information is not otherwise permitted or required by law.

X. CAN I CHANGE MY MIND AND REVOKE AN AUTHORIZATION?
You can change your mind and revoke an authorization, except to the extent that we have relied on the authorization up to that point, or the information is needed to maintain the integrity of a research study. All requests to revoke an authorization must be in writing.

XII. SHARING INFORMATION WITH LUV MY PET’S AGENTS OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
There are many services provided by Luv My Pet through contracts with agents and independent contractors. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to the agent or independent contractor so that they can perform the job we have contracted them to do. To protect your health information, we contractually require our agents and independent contractors to adhere to the same confidentiality standards that are adhered to by Luv My Pet.

XIII. WHEN IS MY AUTHORIZATION / CONSENT NOT REQUIRED?
The law requires that some information may be disclosed without your authorization in the following circumstances:
• In case of an emergency
• When there are communication or language barriers
• When required by law
• When there are risks to public health or safety
• To conduct health oversight activities
• To report suspected abuse or neglect
• To government regulatory agencies
• In connection with judicial or administrative proceedings
• For law enforcement purposes
• In the event of a serious threat to health or safety

XIV. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS
The following is a statement of your rights with respect to protected health information and a brief description of how you may exercise these rights.

1. You have the right to inspect and copy health information.
This means you may inspect and obtain a copy of PHI that is contained in a “designated record set” for so long as we maintain the PHI. Any costs of inspection or copying will your responsibility and Luv My Pet may require prepayment . A designated record set contains medical and billing records and any other records that Luv My Pet uses in making decisions about your pet’s care. You may not however, inspect or copy the following records: information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding and certain PHI that is subject to laws that prohibit access to that PHI. Depending on the circumstances, a decision to deny access may be reviewable. In some circumstances, you may have the right to have this decision reviewed. Please contact our Privacy Officer if you have questions about access to your pet’s record.

2. You have the right to request a restriction of your health information.
This means you may ask us to restrict or limit the medical information we use or disclose for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. Luv My Pet is not required to agree to a restriction that you may request. We will notify you if we deny your request. If we do agree to the requested restriction, we may not use or disclose your PHI in violation of that restriction unless it is needed to provide emergency treatment. You may request a restriction by contacting our Privacy Officer in writing.

3. You have the right to request amendments to your health information.
This means you may request an amendment of PHI about your pet in a designated record set for as long as we maintain this information. In certain cases, we may deny your request for an amendment. If we deny your request, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with our Privacy Office and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of this rebuttal. If you wish to amend your pet’s PHI, please contact our Privacy Officer. All requests for amendment and all statements of disagreement must be in writing.

4. You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your pet’s health information.
You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your pet’s PHI made by Luv My Pet. This right applies to disclosures for purposes other than treatment, payment or healthcare operations as described in this Privacy Notice. We are also not required to account for disclosures that you requested, disclosures that you agreed to by signing an authorization form, or certain other disclosures we are permitted to make without your authorization. The request for an accounting must be made in writing to our Privacy Officer. The request should specify the time period sought for the accounting. We are not required to provide an accounting for disclosures that take place prior to April 14, 2003. Accounting requests may not be made for periods of time in excess of six years.

5. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
You have a right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice. To obtain a paper copy of this Notice, write to the Luv My Pet Privacy Officer at 17150 Newhope Street, Suite 510, Fountain Valley, California 92708.

XV. WHAT IF I HAVE A QUESTION / COMPLAINT?
If you have questions regarding your privacy rights, please contact the Luv My Pet Privacy Officer at 17150 Newhope Street, Suite 510, Fountain Valley, California 92708. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint by contacting the Luv My Pet Privacy Officer via email at privacy@luvmypet.com or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint. The address for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 Telephone: 202-619-0257, Toll Free: 1-877-696-6775, www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.