PRIVACY POLICY FOR BIG C DISCOUNT DRUGS

Big C Discount Drugs has in place privacy policies and has always protected the confidentiality of patient information in accordance with patient’s wishes and State and Federal laws. The passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires that these policies and procedures be made available to patients in the form of a “Privacy Policy”. The following policy statement is provided to the patients of Big C Discount Drugs hereafter referred to as “Pharmacy” in compliance with the requirements of the HIPAA and resulting regulations. This policy states how your medical information referred to as protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed and how you may access that information. Please read carefully.

The pharmacy will not use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization except as described in this policy. Pharmacy reserves the right to change its practices and this policy and to make the new policy effective for all PHI that we maintain. Upon request we will provide any policy revisions to you.

1. The patient may authorize the use of patient’s protected health information (PHI) in any way the patient so desires by submitting a request to Pharmacy in writing.  Pharmacy will comply with the patient’s instructions within the parameters of State and Federal laws.  Pharmacy is not required to agree to restrictions on the use of PHI that would interfere with treatment and quality of care.
2. Pharmacy may discuss PHI with the patient’s other health care providers, as provided by law, to the extent that such communications pertain to the treatment and quality of care for that patient. Pharmacy may also disclose to the FDA or its representatives PHI relative to adverse events with respect to pharmaceutical or other products to facilitate product recalls, repairs, or replacements.
3. Current Georgia Law requires the release of PHI on a court order or subpoena. Pharmacy may also release PHI to comply with Georgia Workers Compensation Laws, to meet requirements of Public Health Laws and to comply with requirements of law relating to audits, investigations and inspections necessary for Pharmacy licensure and for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs and compliance with civil right laws
4. Pharmacy will make available to the patient copies of the patient’s PHI, upon request. There may be a fee for production of records. If you feel that your PHI is incomplete or incorrect you may request that it be amended. Such request must include the reason for the request and must be in writing to the Pharmacy Privacy Officer. Your request may be denied. If denied you have the right to file a statement of disagreement and Pharmacy may give a rebuttal to your statement of disagreement.
5. Pharmacists will counsel the patient on proper use of medications, possible reactions, interactions and side effects of medication and will answer any questions from the patient on prescribed medications as provided by law. Such counseling may be by telephone, within the area of the pharmacy department, or other mutually agreeable area unless directed to not do so by the patient.
6. Pharmacy may leave voice messages or mail reminders to patient regarding necessary refills or compliance with medication therapy for the improvement of the patient’s health care.
7. Pharmacy will make every effort disclose only the minimum necessary information for payment by patient’s designated payer or to other business associates necessary to process and transmit PHI to accomplish the provision of and payment for services and product for the patient’s health care. Pharmacy will require contracts from those business associates who have access to your PHI as permitted by law.
8. Pharmacy will allow the patient’s personal representative to pick up and deliver to patient prescription medications and other health care needs unless instructed not to do so by the patient.The personal representative can be anyone so designated by the patient. In the case of a minor child, this personal representative may be designated by the parent, guardian, or other legally qualified person. The patient does not need to provide the pharmacy with names of such persons in advance.
9. At the request of the patient, Pharmacy will allow delivery of prescription medication and other healthcare needs by means of pharmacy personnel or agent contracted by Pharmacy.
10. Pharmacy will not authorize the use of PHI by any person or entity for the purposes of contacting patient for marketing unless specifically authorized by the patient. Any prescription product information used in marketing or data compilation for marketing will contain no PHI.
11. For the purposes of providing quality pharmacy and other health care products and services, Pharmacy personnel including pharmacy cashier and technicians, pharmacists and delivery personnel will have the access to certain PHI. All such personnel have been trained in the confidentiality of PHI by Pharmacy Privacy Officer, Robert C. Bowles, Jr., and Pharmacy Privacy Committee appointed by Pharmacy.
12. Patients who feel that their privacy rights have been violated are requested to contact Pharmacy Privacy Officer, Robert C. Bowles, Jr., in person or by phone at 706-647-8267 to obtain information on the submission of a compliant.
13. By posting in Pharmacy all patients will be afforded opportunity to review this policy and a copy will be made available to any patient upon request.Patient will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of notice of this Privacy Policy as required by HIPAA.
14. All documentation on patient prescription medication and services will be retained by Pharmacy in accordance with Federal and State Laws. When such documentation is to be destroyed, procedures are utilized that insure the security of that information. All bottles presented to Pharmacy for refills will be returned to the patient for destruction.