
    
        HIPAA Notice
    
    NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
    Effective April 14, 2003
    
    THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION 
    ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW 
    YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE 
    REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
    
    Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
    Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") we are required to maintain the privacy 
    of your protected health information and provide you with notice 
    of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to such 
    protected health information.
    
    We are required to abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect. 
    We reserve the right to change the terms of our notice at any time and to 
    make the new notice provisions effective for all protected health 
    information that we maintain. In the event that we make a material revision 
    to the terms of our notice, you will receive
    a revised notice within 60-days of such revision. If you should have any 
    questions or require further information, please contact our Privacy Officer 
    at (770) 998-8936 or toll free at (800) 342-5209.
    
    
    How We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information
    
    The following describes the purposes for which we are permitted or 
    required by law to use or disclose your health information without your 
    consent or authorization. Any other uses or disclosures will be made only 
    with your written authorization and you may revoke such authorization in 
    writing at any time.
    Treatment
    We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with medical 
    treatment or services. For example, information obtained by a provider 
    providing health care services to you will record such information in your 
    record that is related to your treatment. This information is necessary to 
    determine what treatment you should receive. Health care providers will also 
    record actions taken by them in the course of your treatment and note how 
    you respond.
    
    Payment
    We may use or disclose your health information in order to process claims or 
    make payment for covered services you receive under your benefit plan. For 
    example, your provider may submit a claim to us for payment. The claim form 
    will include information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and treatment 
    or supplies used in the course of treatment.
    
    Health Care Operations
    We may use or disclose your health information for health care operations. 
    Health care operations include, but not limited to, quality assessment and 
    improvement activities, underwriting, premium rating, management and general 
    administrative activities. For example, members of our quality improvement 
    team may use information in your health record to assess the quality of care 
    that you receive and determine how to continually improve the quality and 
    effectiveness of the services
    we provide.
    
    Business Associates
    There may be instances where services are provided to our organization 
    through contracts with third-party "business associates". Whenever a 
    business associate arrangement involves the use or disclosure of your health 
    information, we will have a written contract that requires the business 
    associate to maintain the same high standards of safeguarding your privacy 
    that we require of our own employees and affiliates.
    
    Required by Law
    We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by 
    federal, state or local law.
    
    Communication with Family or Friends
    Our service professionals, using their best judgment, may disclose to a 
    family member, other relative, close personal friend, or any other person 
    you identify, health information relevant to that person's involvement in 
    your care or payment related to your care.
    
    Marketing
    We may use or disclose your health information, as necessary, to provide you 
    with information about treatment alternatives or other health-related 
    benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
    
    Research
    We may disclose information to researchers when their research has been 
    approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research 
    proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health 
    information.
    
    Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors
    We may disclose health information to a coroner or medical examiner. We may 
    also disclose medical information to funeral directors consistent with 
    applicable law to carry out their duties.
    
    Organ Procurement Organizations
    Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ 
    procurement
    organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or 
    transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.
    
    Fund Raising
    We may contact you as part of a fund-raising effort.
    
    Public Health
    As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health 
    or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury 
    or disability.
    
    Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
    We may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events 
    with respect to food, supplements, product and product defects, or post 
    marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or 
    replacement.
    
    Workers' Compensation
    We may disclose health information to the 
    extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws 
    relating to workers compensation or other similar programs established by 
    law.
    
    To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety
    Consistent with applicable federal and state laws, we may use and disclose 
    health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health 
    and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.
    
    Military and Veterans
    If you are a member of the armed forces, we may disclose health information 
    about you as required by military command.
    
    Health Oversight Activities
    We may disclose health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, including audits, investigations, inspections, 
    and licensure.
    
    Protective Services for the President, National Security and 
    Intelligence Activities
    We may disclose health information about you to authorized federal officials 
    so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or 
    foreign heads of state
    or conduct special investigations, or for intelligence, counterintelligence, 
    and other national security activities authorized by law.
    
    Law Enforcement
    We may disclose health information when requested by a law enforcement 
    official as part of law enforcement activities; investigations of criminal conduct; in response to court orders; in emergency circumstances; or when required to do so by law.
 
    Inmates
    We may disclose health information about an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official to the correctional institution or law enforcement official.
 
    Lawsuits and Disputes
    We may disclose health information about you in response to a subpoena, 
    discovery request, or other lawful order from a court.
    Plan Sponsors
    We may disclose health information about you to your plan sponsor to carry 
    out plan administration functions that the plan sponsor performs upon 
    certification by the plan sponsor that the plan documents have been amended 
    as set forth under HIPAA regulations.
    
    Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
    
    The following describes your rights regarding the health information we 
    maintain about you. To exercise your rights, you must submit your request in 
    writing to our Privacy Officer at:
    
    100 Mansell Court E.
    Suite 400
    Roswell, GA 30076
    
    Right to Request Restrictions
    You have the right to request that we restrict uses or disclosures of your 
    health information to carry out treatment, payment, health care operations, 
    or communications with family or friends. We are not required to agree to a 
    restriction.
 
    Right to Receive Confidential Communications
    You have the right to request that we send communications that contain your 
    health information by alternative means or to alternative locations. We must 
    accommodate your request if it is reasonable and you clearly state that the 
    disclosure of all or part of that information could endanger you.
 
    Right to Inspect and Copy
    You have the right to inspect and copy health information that we maintain 
    about you in a designated record set. A "designated record set" is a group 
    of records that we maintain such as enrollment, payment, and claims 
    adjudication record systems. If copies are requested or you agree to a 
    summary or explanation of such information, we may charge a reasonable, 
    cost-based fee for the costs of copying, including labor and supply cost of 
    copying; postage; and preparation cost of an explanation or summary, if such 
    is requested. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain 
    circumstances as defined by law. If you are denied access to your health 
    information, you may request that the denial be reviewed.
    
    Right to Amend
    You have the right to have us amend your health information for as long as 
    we maintain such information. Your written request must include the reason 
    or reasons that support your request. We may deny your request for an 
    amendment if we determine that the record that is the subject of the request 
    was not created by us, is not available for inspection as specified by law, 
    or is accurate and complete.
    Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures
    You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your health 
    information made by us in the six years prior to the date the accounting is 
    requested (or shorter period as requested). This does not include 
    disclosures made to carry out treatment, payment and health care operations; 
    disclosures made to you; communications with family and friends; for 
    national security or intelligence purposes; to correctional institutions or 
    law enforcement officials; or disclosures made prior to the HIPAA compliance 
    date of April 14, 2003. Your first request for accounting in any 12-month 
    period shall be provided without charge. A reasonable, cost-based fee shall 
    be imposed for each subsequent request for accounting within the same 
    12-month period.
 
    Right to Obtain a Paper Copy
    You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy 
    Practices at any time.
    
   How to File a Complaint if You Believe Your Privacy 
    Rights Have Been Violated
    
    If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, please submit 
    your complaint in writing to:
    
    Humana/CompBenefits
    Attn: Privacy Officer
    100 Mansell Court East, Suite 400
    Roswell, GA 30076
    
    You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of 
    Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against for filing a 
    complaint.